Overture for a Small Town

SKU: CF.SPS94F

ISBN 9781491161838. UPC: 680160920518.

On November 5th, 2017, a mass shooting took place at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Twenty-six innocent people lost their lives that day, including an unborn child. Overture to a Small Town is dedicated to these victims and the loved ones they left behind. From the biggest cities to the smallest towns, the senseless bloodshed must end. Despite the darkness of this tragedy, it is my intent through this music to portray a sense of hope, dignity, and innocence deserved by all America's cities and towns. The opening moments of this piece should be treated delicately, ensuring that the brass section moves together in one unified voice, and that the crotales evoke distant flickers of light. Similarly, in mm. 120-127, articulations in the flutes, trumpets and mallets should be strong enough to be heard, but without being aggressive. The textural layering in mm. 48-53 should be executed with machine-like precision of both rhythm and articulation. This passage should evoke the sound of many voices rising together. There should be a great contrast between the opening Piano dynamic and the final Forte dynamic. In mm. 65-69, both mallet percussionists may play the indicated notes in any octave they choose. Both players should move rapidly between notes in any order. This passage should sound fluid and ethereal. In mm. 69-73: If there is no English Horn available to the ensemble, the Trumpet should play this passage solo. If there is an English Horn, both instruments should play the passage together.
On November 5th, 2017, a mass shooting took place at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Twenty-six innocent people lost their lives that day, including an unborn child. Overture to a Small Town is dedicated to these victims and the loved ones they left behind. From the biggest cities to the smallest towns, the  senseless bloodshed must end. Despite the darkness of this tragedy, it is my intent through this music to portray a sense of hope, dignity, and innocence deserved by all America’s cities and towns.  The opening moments of this piece should be treated delicately, ensuring that the brass section moves together in one unified voice, and that the crotales evoke distant flickers of light. Similarly, in mm. 120-127, articulations in the flutes, trumpets and mallets should be strong enough to be heard, but without being aggressive.  The textural layering in mm. 48-53 should be executed with machine-like precision of both rhythm and articulation. This passage should evoke the sound of many voices rising together. There should be a great contrast between the opening Piano dynamic and the final Forte dynamic.  In mm. 65-69, both mallet percussionists may play the indicated notes in any octave they choose. Both players should move rapidly between notes in any order. This passage should sound fluid and ethereal.  In mm. 69-73: If there is no English Horn available to the ensemble, the Trumpet should play this passage solo. If there is an English Horn, both instruments should play the passage together.