Epic

Description

Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin 3, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, Piano — Epic is an intense composition for developing string orchestras. One of the things I try to do as a composer with experience as a middle-school teacher is to write music that is fun and exciting for students to play. I love it when I hear from directors that their students ask to play my pieces over and over again and can’t stop playing them. To me that is a home run! We want students to want to play, don’t we? It is my hope that Epic is another one of those pieces. The title is somewhat of a cultural phenomenon as young people go around calling everything “epic” or especially the term "epic fail", when someone falls or makes a big mistake. So, I took that title for this piece because of its instant recognition with students, but also because I want this piece to have a huge epic type of sound to it. It is cast in a natural minor key giving it a bold, aggressive and dark sound. The piece is also built on the idea of strong unison figures that expand into thick harmonies. There is also a bit of some biting dissonance in the piece to build the tension. It has been my pleasure to have the opportunity to write this piece. I hope you and your students enjoy it and find it useful for your program.-LARRY CLARKLakeland, FL 2014 Epic is an intense composition for the developing string orchestra that is sweeping and catchy--all of the thumbprints that have made Larry Clark's music so popular for young groups. Epic has a contagious melody that the students will want to play again and again.

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