Wind ensemble, 2002
Duration: 11 minutes
Instrumentation*:
Piccolo
2 Flutes
2 Oboes**
2 Bassoons**
Contra-Bassoon***
Clarinet in Eb
3 Clarinets in Bb
Bass Clarinet
Contra-Bass Clarinet***
Soprano Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
4 Horns in F
4 Trumpets in Bb
2 Trombones
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
6 Percussion
1: Vibraphone, Large Triangle,
Mounted Tambourine, Tambourine, Bongos, Slapstick, Tam-tam
2: Glockenspiel, Xylophone,
Piccolo Snare Drum, Brake Drum, Tambourine, Small Suspended Cymbal, 3
Woodblocks
3: 3 Woodblocks, 3 Suspended
Cymbals, Tom-toms
4: Marimba, Mounted Tambourine,
Piccolo Snare Drum, Field Drum
5: Glockenspiel, Chimes, Large
Triangle, 3 Suspended Cymbals, Jawbone (Vibraslap), Slapstick, Brake
Drum, Crotales 6: Crotales, Mounted
Tambourine, Large Bass Drum
Double-Bass***
Notes:
*The work may be performed by wind ensemble (one player per part) or
concert band (multiple players per part).
**If Oboe or Bassoon are unavailable, cues are provided in other parts
to cover the music.
***The Contra-Bassoon, Contra-Bass Clarinet, and Double-Bass are all
highly desirable, though not essential, as they have no independent
parts.
Program Note:
Jacob’s Ladder portrays the vision or dream had by Jacob in the dessert of a ladder reaching from the earth to heaven, with a host of angels climbing in both directions. The work aims to capture some of the awe and ecstasy, fear and elation evoked by this image. Primary musical materials in the piece are ascending and descending scalar (stepwise) figures and symmetrical, cyclic (eternal) harmonic progressions.
Commissioned by the wind programs of
Syracuse University, John Laverty, conductor
The University of Florida, David Waybright, conductor
The University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign, James Keene, conductor
The University of Michigan, Michael Haithcock, conductor
The University of Nevada - Las Vegas, Thomas Leslie, conductor
The University of Northern Iowa, Rod M. Chestnutt, conductor
The University of North Carolina - Greensboro, John Locke, conductor
Herndon High School (Virginia), Rich Bergman, conductor
Klein High School (Texas), Dick Clardy, conductor
Seminole High School (Florida), Daniel Wood, conductor
Tarpon Springs High School (Florida), Kevin Ford, conductor
The Midwest District of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, Al Sergal and Michelle Kincheloe, KKY Governors, and Ed Elsea, TBZ Counselor
Winner of the 2004 Truman State University/MACRO Analysis Composition Competition.
Recorded by The University of Florida Wind Symphony, David Waybright conductor, Dances and Dreams, Mark Records, 4849-MCD (2003)