West of the Mississippi

0 Full Score A3 - 1 Full Score - 0 Clarinet III - 0 Alto Clarinet Eb - 2 Alto Saxophone II - 1 Cornet Eb - 2 Tuba C - 1 Percussion I - 1 Percussion II - 1 Drums - 1 Glockenspiel - 0 viola (AC) - 0 Part 1 in C - 0 Part 1 in C - 5 Part 1 in Bb - 1 Part 1 in Eb - 5 Part 2 in Bb - 0 Part 2 in C - 2 Part 2 in Eb - 2 Part 2 in F - 2 Part 3 in C (BC) - 2 Part 3 in Bb (BC) - 3 Part 3 in Bb (TC) - 1 Part 3 in Eb (TC) - 1 Part 3 in F - 2 Part 4 in Bb (TC) - 3 Part 4 in C (BC) - 2 Part 4 in Bb (BC) - 1 Part 5 in Bb (BC) - 2 Part 5 in Bb (TC) - 2 Part 5 in C (BC) - 2 Part 5 in Eb (TC) - 1 Part 5 in Eb, (BC)

There’s always a sense of adventure about America that makes it a really exciting topic to write about. The 3 States that sprang to mind in bringing a piece of music together were: California, Hawaii and Texas.
We start out our American journey on the West Coast….
California has provided much in the way of film and music for over 100 years. Combining this sense of free expression with the ’Surfing’ culture, this initial section of the piece has an easy-going, fun feel in a pop idiom. Maybe wearing some shades might be quite a good look for this section!
We move even further West now to the island of Hawaii where the free and easy goes onto a new level! The use of chromatics is a feature of Hawaiian melodies and has a feel a ’sliding’ between notes that somehow sums up this feel of living on a tropical island! Have some fun with this section and have a Hawaiian garland to wear!
Back into the USA mainland, and the fabulous state of Texas! Here we have the concept of the old fashioned rodeo and the ‘Wild West’. Even today, the culture of horses, cowboys and tales of adventure are celebrated in places such as Fort Worth. The music captures some of these themes and has a fun and enjoyment…some get your Cowboy hats at the ready and enjoy the finale!