TSPCE23-010
PROGRAM NOTES
Bakken Overture is named after the Bakken oil formation that spans from Western North Dakota into Montana, South Dakota, and Canada.
The four parts should work as one, creating a heavy groove throughout. This piece is dedicated to the students in the 2012 Montana Eastern A Honor Band Festival Percussion Ensemble who premiered the work.
—Brian NoznyPERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS
While all repeats that are written should be taken, directors are free to add in any additional repeats as they see fit to facilitate their own performance needs. Furthermore, even though the piece is is written with four parts, the instrumentation suggestions are merely guidelines, and the number of players used is entirely up to the discretion of the director.
Here are some examples of ways in which you could adjust this piece to fit your own needs:
• Placing additional repeats in places to extend the length of the piece
• Expanding or reducing the number of players in various sections to reflect the dynamics or form of the work
• Opening up sections of a piece over which students or guest artists may improvise
• Having players change instruments within their given family as the piece progresses
• Adjusting the form of the work to start big, small, or however best fits the performance
PLAYERS AND INSTRUMENTATION
Bakken Overture requires 4 or more players with the following instrumentation suggestions:
1. Auxilliary - Any type of accessory percussion instrument such as:
• Triangle
• Tambourine
• Cowbell
• Woodblock
2. High drum – Any sort of dry-sounding high drum can be used on this part. For example:
• Snare drum (snares on, preferably)
• Bongos (with sticks)
• Tom-tom (small/high)
3. Medium drums (2) + cymbal – Any suspended cymbal or ride cymbal will work for the suspended cymbal part. A pair of medium to medium-low toms would be ideal for this part, but other options include:
• Congas (pair)
• 2 small timpani (tuned high and dampened)
4. Low drum – A number of low drums would work for this part, including:
• Concert bass drum
• Marching bass drum
• Drumset kick drum
• Timpani (large, tuned low)
