Poorvi an evening raga for concert band
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Title: Poorvi
Lead Commissioner: California Band Masters Association Social Impact Consortium Duration: 4:30 Grade Level: 2.5 Digital Score and Parts: $200 Poorvi: An Evening Raga for wind ensemble explores the sound of this foundational north Indian raga in the concert band medium. The piece opens with aleatoric playing of metallic objects while clarinets play the characteristic phrases of raag Poorvi, called the raag chalan. Following the clarinet soli a woodwind choir and then full winds further develop the raga melodies. The piece builds energy with a grooving arrangement of the Hindustani khayal (song) "Ye meri mai ka sub suka dino" and concludes with a choral like return to the characteristic phrases of Poorvi.
To aid with your research into raga music and your rehearsals, the score includes an essay about raag Poorvi by internationally acclaimed vocalist Samarth Nagarkar. The score also includes three warmups to aid your rehearsal of the khayal and raag chalan sections. The warmups include instructions on how to sing utilizing Indian melodic syllables (called sargam) as well as parts to play as a full ensemble. |
Instrumentation
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Woodwinds
Flute* Oboe* Doubles high w.w. Bassoon* Doubles low w.w. Clarinet 1 Clarinet 2 Bass Clarinet* Doubles low w.w. Alto Saxophone 1-2* Tenor Saxophone* Baritone Saxophone* Doubles low w.w. |
Brass
Trumpet in Bb 1* Trumpet in Bb 2* Horn in F* (optional) Trombone* Euphonium* Tuba* Strings Bass, Electric or Acoustic* (optional) |
Percussion
Timpani* Percussion 1* Snare Drum Percussion 2* Medium Tom and High Tom Percussion 3* Tambourine Percussion 4* Crash Cymbals, Suspended Cymbals Percussion 5* Bass Drum Percussion 6* Glockenspiel *Instrumentalists that play metallic objects. See composer’s notes. |
Salt March for wind ensemble
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Title: Salt March Lead Commissioner: Jennifer Bergeron, Walsh Middle School, Round Rock TX. Duration: 5:00 Grade Level: 4 Digital Score and Parts: $150 |
About Salt March for Wind Ensemble
In the spring of 1930 Mohandas K. Gandhi began a non-violent protest of British colonialism that would come to be known as the salt march. Starting from their ashram in Ahmedabad, India, Gandhi and his collaborators would walk 239 miles to the western coast. By making salt out of seawater, Gandhi challenged unjust laws that gave Britain a monopoly on salt production. This act of civil disobedience would, in Gandhi’s own words, “shake the foundation of the British empire” and lead toward Indian independence.
Salt March for Wind Ensemble will explore the concept of the march as non-violent protest rather than military celebration. The piece will weave the rhythms of south Asian processional drumming with melodies from the Indian raga tradition and an arrangement of songs associated with Mahatma Gandhi. The music will tell a story of Gandhi’s march for freedom.
Salt March for Wind Ensemble will explore the concept of the march as non-violent protest rather than military celebration. The piece will weave the rhythms of south Asian processional drumming with melodies from the Indian raga tradition and an arrangement of songs associated with Mahatma Gandhi. The music will tell a story of Gandhi’s march for freedom.
Instrumentation
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Woodwinds
Piccolo (doubles Flute 1*) Flute 1 Flute 2 Oboe (doubles part*) Bassoon (doubles part*) Clarinet in Bb 1 Clarinet in Bb 2 Bass Clarinet Alto Saxophone Tenor Saxophone Baritone Saxophone (doubles part*) |
Brass
Trumpet in Bb 1 Trumpet in Bb 2 & 3 Horn in F 1 & 2 (doubles*) Trombone 1& 2 Euphonium Tuba Strings Electric Bass (optional) |
Percussion
Timpani Percussion 1 Snare Drum Percussion 2 Tambourine Percussion 3 Suspended Cymbal with soft mallets, Crash Cymbals Percussion 4 Low Tom Percussion 5 Bass Drum Percussion 6 Optional Aux Percussion |
*These instruments will double other parts making them optional for bands who don’t have the full instrumentation.
Three Songs of Bengal
A three-movement arrangement of Bengali songs for concert band.
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Title: Three Songs of Bengal
Composer/Arranger: Aakash Mittal Lead Commissioner: Jeff Ball, Grand Street High School, Brooklyn NY Length: 5:00 Grade Level: 2 Digital Score and Parts: $75.00 |
About the piece
While living in West Bengal with the goal of studying Hindustani Raga Music, I regularly experienced the vast repertoire of Bengali composers and songwriters. As a person of Punjabi-Euro origin the music of Bengal utilized instruments, sounds, and song forms I had never encountered. During my stay I played saxophone along side Baul singers in Tanmoy Bose's band Taal Tantra. I listened to the poetry and songs of Tagore at chai stands, on concert stages, and on rooftops. These experiences struck me as an important testament to the plurality of South Asia's cultural landscape. As a followup to my first wind ensemble piece, Samay Raga, Three Songs of Bengal is a reflection on the music I encountered within Bengali communities. Each movement is an instrumental arrangement of a traditional Bangla (Bengali) song for concert band. The piece begins with a song composed by Rabindranath Tagore, the polymathic artist, poet, playwright, composer, and activist who was an important figure in the Bengal Renaissance. The second movement is by Kazi Nazrul Islam who was nicknamed the "rebel poet" for his dissent against the British Empire and the cultural hegemony of Tagore. The piece concludes with a song from the Baul tradition, a community of wandering minstrels whose music centers nature themes and the body.
Aakash Mittal-
While living in West Bengal with the goal of studying Hindustani Raga Music, I regularly experienced the vast repertoire of Bengali composers and songwriters. As a person of Punjabi-Euro origin the music of Bengal utilized instruments, sounds, and song forms I had never encountered. During my stay I played saxophone along side Baul singers in Tanmoy Bose's band Taal Tantra. I listened to the poetry and songs of Tagore at chai stands, on concert stages, and on rooftops. These experiences struck me as an important testament to the plurality of South Asia's cultural landscape. As a followup to my first wind ensemble piece, Samay Raga, Three Songs of Bengal is a reflection on the music I encountered within Bengali communities. Each movement is an instrumental arrangement of a traditional Bangla (Bengali) song for concert band. The piece begins with a song composed by Rabindranath Tagore, the polymathic artist, poet, playwright, composer, and activist who was an important figure in the Bengal Renaissance. The second movement is by Kazi Nazrul Islam who was nicknamed the "rebel poet" for his dissent against the British Empire and the cultural hegemony of Tagore. The piece concludes with a song from the Baul tradition, a community of wandering minstrels whose music centers nature themes and the body.
Aakash Mittal-
Sample Score and Recording
| three_songs_of_bengal_brooklyn_wind_symphony.mp3 |
| score_three_songs_of_bengal_sample_score.pdf |
Instrumentation
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Winds
Flute Oboe Bassoon Clarinet in Bb 1 Clarinet in Bb 2 Bass Clarinet Alto Saxophone Tenor Saxophone Baritone Saxophone |
Brass
Trumpet in Bb 1 Trumpet in Bb 2 Horn in F Trombone Euphonium Tuba Strings Electric Bass (optional) Ek Tara or Guitar (optional) |
Percussion
Timpani Percussion 1 Bass Drum Percussion 2 Claves, Crash Cymbals, Finger Cymbals, Singing Bowl, Suspended Cymbal with soft mallets, Tom-toms Percussion 3 Snare Drum Percussion 4 Drum Set (with Bass Drum, Floor Tom, Hi Hat, High Tom, Snare Drum, and Ride Cymbal), Suspended Cymbal with soft mallets, Tambourine Percussion 5 Glockenspiel and Wind Chimes Tabla (optional) |