Chariots - Grade 2 - Concert Band - PDF Download
“Chariots” was commissioned for the Brazos Middle School Band, Allynn Garcia & Billy Mere, Directors.
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Sometimes I have a hard time coming up with names for a piece.
This was one of those times.
One of the things I love about writing commissions is that I can pitch the idea of a name to the group commissioning the piece. I never know what is going to be suggested, but I hope that I can end up using one they came up with so the members of the ensemble feel even more connected to the piece that was written just for them.
I started writing this piece thinking of a fanfare built on an eighth note grid. In this grid I systematically move eighth notes one beat over, like you see in the first few bars. I didn't completely stick to this rhythmic motive, but you can hear it popping up throughout.
I suppose that the pulsing feel coming from the eighth notes gave the feeling of a chase or a race because several suggestions for the name of this piece revolved around that idea. When the name of "Chariots" was suggested, I rolled it around in my head, went back and listened, and the more I thought it over the more I liked it!
Because the title came after the composition it doesn't strictly follow the idea of a chariot race, but if you listen in a more of an abstract interpretation of the name it totally works! I encourage you to imagine chariots being welcomed onto the track with a fanfare, lining up at the starting line, chasing eachother around the track, with choruses of horse hooves thudding, maybe there is a crash at some point. As the music builds from a moment of calm, imagine one racer out front all by themselves, then other chariots start to catch up and attempt to overtake the leader, the audience cheers as our race ends with horses neck and neck charging across the finish line.
Instrumentation
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
Clarinet 1, 2
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpet 1, 2
French Horn
Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Snare Drum, Wind Chimes, & Ride Cymbal
Bass Drum, Suspended Cymbal
Suspended Cymbal, Tambourine, Floor Tom
Glockenspiel & Chimes