Concert band (Piccolo, 1st Flute, 2nd Flute, Oboe 1/2, Bassoon 1/2, Eb Clarinet,...(+)
Concert band (Piccolo,
1st Flute, 2nd Flute,
Oboe 1/2, Bassoon 1/2, Eb
Clarinet, 1st Bb
Clarinet, 2nd Bb
Clarinet, 3rd Bb
Clarinet, Eb Alto
Clarinet, Bb Bass
Clarinet, Eb Alto
Saxophone 1/2, Bb Tenor
Saxophone, Eb Baritone
Saxophone, 1st Bb Cornet,
2nd/3rd Bb Cornet, 1) -
grade 5
SKU:
CN.S11158
Composed by
Gordon Jacob. Band Music.
Score only. Duration
15:30. Published by G & M
Brand Music Publishers
(CN.S11158).
A
powerful work. An opening
fanfare leads directly to
an Allegro risoluto,
which exudes
determination and
forthrightness. The
second movement follows
without a break and is a
continuous plaint in
which the melody seems
forever seeking
resolution like a
troubled soul searching
for respite. Only in the
closing bars does peace
seem to take over. The
final movement, marked
Allegro non troppo,
starts with a cheering
fanfare that leads to a
bright and breezy romp,
with a rustic feel about
it. When the fanfare
reappears we are suddenly
immersed in exaltations
of joy that really give a
feeling of optimism as we
proceed to the end of the
piece via a short
Coda.
With this
Symphony, Gordon Jacob
proclaims his absolute
mastery of idiom and
instrumentation with a
triumphant rejoicing.
Written in 1978 as a
commission from Arthur
Doyle (hence the AD in
the title, a typical
piece of Jacob wit), it
lay virtually unplayed
save for the efforts of
his Estate, Troy Peterson
and Geoffrey Brand and
CBDNA (College Band
Directors Association,
USA), who between them
ensured that it was
professionally recorded
in 1994 and published in
1995. There is little
point in indulging in
semantics as to whether
the piece is a Symphony.
It is Jacob's approach to
his tuneful, folk-based
material which is
symphonic: weighty in
exposition and
development, sonorous and
expressive in the slow
movement, with a
scherzo-like last
movement and a giocoso
coda. After a brilliant
opening fanfare, the
quick triple-meter first
theme (Allegro Risoluto)
is introduced on
clarinets, punctuated
with brass. It is soon
followed by a contrasting
melody for saxophone. In
all this material the
interval of a 4th is
prominent, and throughout
the work the 4th and 7th
are important. Perhaps it
is the frequent use of
the 7th which gives a
feeling of restlessness
without resolution which
pervades this movement as
the themes are dissected
and developed. The second
movement follows directly
after a horn bridge.
Still the melody outlines
the 7th and the ear is
not satisfied until the
full band (with organ),
comes to rest in Bb
major. This point of
repose and the magic
pianissimo which follows
shortly after when the
slow theme is re-stated,
are the apex of the
Symphony's construction.
Soon, however, we are
transported, via a
fanfare, into a
helter-skelter 9/8 romp:
rustic, English, and
almost vulgar, this theme
is thrown around the
group before exploding
into a boisterous 2/4
coda.
Geoffrey Peterson
