SKU: PR.165000970

ISBN 9781491100462. UPC: 680160626717. 9x12 inches.

Commissioned by a consortium of 20 high school and university bands coordinated by Scott Hanna of the University of Texas at Austin, Downshifting is inspired by Welcher’s joy of bicycle riding. Welcher explains in the program note: When I decided to write a piece for band that was basically entertaining and uplifting, it made perfect sense to call it Downshifting... With three gears on the front sprocket and seven on the rear, it’s possible to keep one’s legs going at a constant speed (for me, q = 126) while the bike itself may be moving very slowly or very quickly. I determined to capitalize on this in writing Downshifting, which keeps the same mathematical inner pulse, ‘shifting’ (with a ratchet) as the terrain changes..
One of the joys of life for me is riding my 21-speed bicycle.  As a basically non-athletic person who nonetheless likes to stay in shape, I have found that riding my bike provides just the exercise I need.  The workout is strenuous, but pleasant—and the infinite variety of scenery I pass keeps me alert and wide awake.  When I decided to write a piece for band that was basically entertaining and uplifting, it made perfect sense to call it Downshifting.With three gears on the front sprocket and seven on the rear, it’s possible to keep ones legs going at a constant speed (for me, that’s 126 to the quarter note) while the bike itself may be moving very slowly or very quickly.  I determined to capitalize on this in writing the music, which manages to keep the same mathematical inner pulse, “shifting” (with a ratchet) as the terrain changes.  So Downshifting begins with that steady pulse, on a grid of eighth notes in 2/4 to propel the little vehicle forward.  There’s a joyous little tune in our heads as we begin our ride.  As the initial thrill of riding on the flat gives way to monotony, we stay in that pulse for the first minute or so of the ride.  Then, as the first hill becomes visible, we shift the bike down: even though the eighths are equal, the pulse feels slower (and we’re now in 6/8 time).  Ultimately the compound meter shifts again as the climb begins, and we’re now plodding doggedly up the hill.  (The music reflects all of these changes, with subtitles such as “Working harder—Seeing the climb, ahead”, “Steady and committed…the climb begins!”, “Straining against the grade”, etc.).There are two hills, and two long climbs (but in different keys, reflecting the change in scenery).  When at last the summit of the second hill is reached (“Flying, Over the Top”), we coast at last down the other side at breakneck speed.  The initial joyous melody returns, but now in a spread-out coasting pulse.  At the end of the ride, we slow to a stop—then take one last sprint (shifting five times in the process) in order to end on a biker’s high.Downshifting was commissioned by a consortium of fourteen high school and college bands, overseen by my longtime colleague at the University of Texas, Scott Hanna.  The piece is dedicated to him (and to all bicycle enthusiasts).

SKU: EC.RBM-115

English.

This work was originally scored for mixed chorus and symphonic wind ensemble, in 2005, for the opening of a new concert hall in Corpus Christi, Texas. The commissioning institution, Texas A & M University at Corpus Christi, asked one of their professors – Dr. Robb Jackson – to write a poem for the occasion and the result formed the basis used by the composer to create this new work. Since the academic institution in question is situated on the Texas coast the writer chose to fill his poem with sea imagery and musical metaphors related to shore-side living. This portrayed well the sense of an ocean-side artistic retreat – appropriate to the dedication of a new concert hall in a coastal community.

SKU: CL.012-4711-01

Veteran composer John Wasson has crafted a brilliant Vaudeville and Broadway showstopper with The Bluebonnet Revue, a humorous musical salute to the great state of Texas. Every section in the band finds their moment in the spotlight in this exciting and fast-paced musical romp across the musical theater stage. Combining both humorous and lyrical treatments of original melodies with snippets of well-known Texas folksongs and a heavy dose of over the top percussion writing, this fun work is sure to provide a larger than life ending to your concert that will put a smile on every face! An instant classic!

SKU: BT.AMP-273-010

9x12 inches. English-German-French-Dutch.

The inspiration for this piece came from the address of the person who commissioned the work: Morse Street, Houston, Texas. It pays tribute to the immense skill of the engineers who succeeded in submerging a wire across the Atlantic to send messages in morse code from America to Europe. This technical ingenuity provided the perfect source of material for a transatlantic musical message. This work explores the vast expanse of the Atlantic and makes use of Irish melodies to celebrate the point where the cable enters into the Atlantic Ocean.

Die Idee zu diesem Stück entsprang aus der Adresse des Auftraggebers Morse Street, Houston, Texas, welche an die schier unglaubliche Leistung erinnert, eine Leitung für die Übertragung gemorster Nachrichten quer durch den Atlantik zu legen. Dieser technische Triumph bot sich als Thema für eine transatlantische musikalische Botschaft an. Die Musik vermittelt die endlose Weite des Atlantiks und es erklingen - dem Ausgangspunkt des Unterfangens zu Ehren - auch irische Themen.

Morse Street, Houston, Texas, l’indirizzo della societ che ha commissionato questo brano, evoca l’incredibile prodezza tecnica realizzata nel 1866: la posa del primo cavo telefonico sotto-marino attraverso l’Atlantico che permetter la trasmissione dei messaggi in codice Morse. Il brano inizia con una descrizione dell’impressionante distesa d’acqua dell’Atlantico. I temi dell’Allegro vivo ricordano i colori e i paesaggi irlandesi, punto di partenza di questa grande avventura tecnologica.

SKU: CL.012-4711-00

Veteran composer John Wasson has crafted a brilliant Vaudeville and Broadway showstopper with The Bluebonnet Revue, a humorous musical salute to the great state of Texas. Every section in the band finds their moment in the spotlight in this exciting and fast-paced musical romp across the musical theater stage. Combining both humorous and lyrical treatments of original melodies with snippets of well-known Texas folksongs and a heavy dose of over the top percussion writing, this fun work is sure to provide a larger than life ending to your concert that will put a smile on every face! An instant classic!

SKU: GI.G-CD-872

SKU: EC.RBM-115A

French.

This work was originally scored for mixed chorus and symphonic wind ensemble, in 2005, for the opening of a new concert hall in Corpus Christi, Texas. The commissioning institution, Texas A & M University at Corpus Christi, asked one of their professors – Dr. Robb Jackson – to write a poem for the occasion and the result formed the basis used by the composer to create this new work. Since the academic institution in question is situated on the Texas coast the writer chose to fill his poem with sea imagery and musical metaphors related to shore-side living. This portrayed well the sense of an ocean-side artistic retreat – appropriate to the dedication of a new concert hall in a coastal community.

SKU: BT.GOB-000382-130

Hear the beat of horse hooves and feel the blistering heat of the prairie. In this medley of five well-known songs, arranger Dagmar Kildevann has truly captured the atmosphere of the Wild West. An attractive feature of this piece is the various comic effects that Kildevann has included in the arrangement of the folksongs Home on the Range, Deep in the heart of Texas, Clementine, Skip to my Lou and Polly Wolly Doodle. A guaranteed winner!

Hoor het ritme van de paardenhoeven en voel de zinderende hitte van de prairie.
In deze medley van vijf bekende nummers heeft arrangeur Dagmar Kildevann de sfeer van het Wilde Westen uitstekend getroffen.
Kildevann heeftverschillende komische effecten verstopt in deze medley die gebaseerd is op cowboyliederen.
U hoort o.a. voorbijkomen: Home on the Range, Deep in the Heart of Texas, Clementine, Skip to my Lou en Polly Wolly Doodle.
Steelde show met dit gevarieerde werk!