Beyond!

Description

Flute 1, Flute 2, Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinet in Bb 1, Clarinet in Bb 2, Clarinet in Bb 3, Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone 1, Alto Saxophone 2, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Trumpet in Bb 1, Trumpet in Bb 2, Trumpet in Bb 3, Horn in F 1, Horn in F 2, Trombone 1, Trombone 2, Bass Trombone, Euphonium, Bb Euphonium, Tuba, Mallet Percussion, Bells, Timpani, Percussion 1, Snare Drum, Tom-tom, Bass Drum, Percussion 2, Crash Cymbals, Suspended Cymbal, Wind Chimes — I wrote Beyond! to celebrate America’s exploration of space, culminating with the historic Moon Landing. As incredible as it might seem, today’s cell phones have more computer power in them than the computers NASA used to help send Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins into space and onto the moon. In July of 1969, their spacecraft, named Apollo 11, launched into space. From that craft, a lunar module named the Eagle descended to the moon’s surface, allowing Aldrin and Armstrong to land before a television audience of hundreds of millions around the world.xa0Measures 1–26 depict a sunrise awakening what will become one of the most compelling days in the history of Earth. Care should be taken to make a very, very gradual crescendo as groups of instruments take their time making their entrance into the introduction. Measures 26–32 depict the interruption of television programming with a short fanfare in the woodwind and brass, followed by a percussion imitating the sound of frantic keystrokes on a typewriter.From mm. 32–78, the listener hears the sounds of excitement, joy and accomplishment at this wondrous event: that mankind has landed on the surface of a place never once explored. The “typing” ostinato can be heard in several instruments, as reporters carefully narrate historic events. From mm. 78–132, the piece becomes a bit more serious and anticipatory with new challenge: will these brave astronauts be able to withstand the return flight home? Finally, measures 132 to the end mark the end of the mission with our heroes safe at home while the world rejoices. This inspires wonder and excitement about the future: who will next return to space, to the moon, and travel even further Beyond?The main challenges of this piece are going to be articulation, dynamics and balance. The key is fairly easy and the notes themselves should be very accessible to developing players. The goal is to tell a story with only your instrument. Best of luck, and thank you for playing my piece. It was an honor to write it for you. Beyond was written to celebrate America’s exploration of space, culminating with the historic moon landing of Apollo 11 in July, 1969. The music moves through the exciting events: a sunrise awakening, the victorious emotion of the successful landing, the spreading news, trepidation at the challenges returning to earth, and the ultimate relief and joy at the safe splashdown of the NASA astronauts. Intended to ignite the imagination, this piece encourages players to tell a story with their instrument and wonder what else may lie ahead in the future, Beyond?