JOHN HENNECKEN
THE ATHENS CONCERTO Concerto Grosso for Wind Ensemble
Instrumentation:
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Piccolo 2 Flutes 2 Oboes 2 Bassoons 6 Clarinets in B-flat Bass Clarinet in B-flat 2 Alto Saxophones in E-flat Tenor Saxophone in B-flat Baritone Saxophone in E-flat
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Solo Clarinet in B-flat Solo Alto Saxophone in E-flat Solo Trombone Solo Percussion (with assistant): Timpani, Marimba, and Multi-percussion Setup
Solo Piano
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3 Trumpets in B-flat (straight mutes) 4 Horns in F (straight mutes) 2 Trombones (straight mutes) Bass Trombone Euphonium Tuba
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Timpani Percussion 1: Marimba, Snare Drum, Crotales (share with perc. 2), Brake Drum (shared with perc. 2), Tam-tam Percussion 2: Bass Drum, Suspended and Crash Cymbals, Brake Drum (shared with perc. 1), Crotales (share with perc. 1), Triangle Percussion 3: Vibraphone, 4 Tom-toms, Glockenspiel
! Contrabass (Optional) ! !
Score is Transposed Duration: 16 minutes
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Commissioned by:
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The University of Georgia Wind Symphony, Jaclyn Hartenberger, Director The MOD[ular] Ensemble: Timothy K. Adams, percussion, Josh Bynum, trombone, Connie Frigo, saxophone, Heather Gozdan-Bynum, clarinet, and Greg Hankins, piano
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Consortium: California State Polytechnic University Wind Ensemble, Rickey H. Badua, Director Mercer University Wind Ensemble, Douglas Hill, Director Truman State University Wind Ensemble, Curran Prendergast, Director University of Illinois at Chicago Wind Ensemble, JosĂŠÂ Riojas, Director of Bands, Brenna Curtis, conductor University of North Texas Wind Ensemble, Nicholas Enrico Williams, Director University of West Georgia Wind Ensemble, Josh Byrd, Director
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Suggestion for Concerto Setup:
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Percussion
Tpts
Saxes Clarinets Clarinets Perc. Assistant
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Euph
Tuba Timpani
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T-bones
Piano
Alto Sax
Clarinet
Horns Oboes/Bassoons Flutes, Picc. Trombone
Solo Perc.
Conductor
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This arrangement was used at the Premiere by the UGA Wind Symphony, March 22, 2017. For an even clearer picture, consult the video at johnhennecken.com
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Program Note:
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The Athens Concerto was written to feature the performers of the MOD[ular] Ensemble with the University of Georgia Wind Symphony in a concerto grosso. The MOD[ular] ensemble has a unique instrumentation, and I crafted each part with a distinct character. From the clarinet comes both a piercing soprano voice and a warm lyricism, while the saxophone delivers an impassioned cantabile and sets the ensemble ablaze with its virtuosic technique. The trombone often brings a powerful pesante and shatters the tonality through its pitch-bending glissandi. I focused the percussion part on the timpani and marimba, the latter of which provides both a mysterious sustained accompaniment and a scintillating solo at break-neck speed. I showcase the piano through thunderous chords, continuous driving accompanimental figures, and pensive adagio moments. The wind symphony is spotlighted through sonorous ritornellos and also provides a resonant accompaniment for the soloists. There are two main themes in this sonata-form work. The first is an angular and syncopated melody, which is, after the overture, stated emphatically by the soloists in unison. The second theme is characterized by melodic lines that descend further and further after returning to an initial high point, and is first heard in the solo clarinet over rolling marimba harmony. The interplay and variation of these themes generates the form of the piece.
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