Posted by DesertJazz on 2/2/2024, 6:59 am, in reply to "Illumination"
I've never taken it to contest, but I have programmed it a few times with my school and a camp I teach at in the summer. Kids really like the piece! I've judged it once too.
I think the biggest reason I'd be hesitant with it is that, to me, it needs to really have full sounds to be correct. I personally fear opening my group up quite that much at UIL for being told it's too much? There are some finger moments, but I would say the greatest difficulties for UIL purposes will be tuning on the chordal notes. There's a couple of sections that it's easy to get lost in the patterns too if I remember. Percussion is certainly an obvious need, plus the piano player.
I like the piece, I first programmed it when we moved over to our new high school facility. It's a great piece of music. Good luck if you do it!
Re: Illumination
Posted by Me on 2/2/2024, 10:07 am, in reply to "Re: Illumination"
I wish I knew why fortissimo was so verboten to UIL judges both at the concert and marching evaluations.
Yes, it's hard. But if a band can do it well, why shouldn't they?
Re: Illumination
Posted by Bonfire Legend on 2/2/2024, 5:39 am, in reply to "Illumination"
It’s extremely brass heavy. I would consider playing a ballad that doesn’t require a lot of brass as to not wear out their chops. A Grainger miniature such as Australian Up-Country Tune or Down Longford Way would be something to consider pairing it with. If you wanted to take more of a programmatic approach The Flame of Eternal Glory by Shostakovich is a great piece.
Re: Illumination
Posted by NTX 5A NV on 2/1/2024, 11:28 pm, in reply to "Illumination"
Great piece, kids had a blast playing it last year. Bonus if you have strong euphoniums and trumpets, and a ton of percussion. Piano part is pretty vital for time and transitions, in my opinion. It adds a great layer of texture. The ending of the piece is heart-breakingly beautiful and honestly a gorgeous tribute and celebration of David Maslanka.
Be aware of tuning centered around Db major throughout the piece. Work on timing in the middle section between flutes and clarinets, moving on time in sustained notes. We struggled quite a bit with tuning, along with balance between percussion and winds. We struggled to find a center and balance of the ensemble, so the end result was noisy. When the time came, students understood notes and rhythms well but really struggled to understand chord structure and harmonic tuning. This was completely my fault for not helping them to focus on it and not understanding it better myself. Take the opportunity to help them understand functions of the chords - mostly modulating between Db, Ab, and Bb. Make sure also that your percussion section is stellar, their parts are integral to the success of the piece and adding color, as well as momentum. The chime part at the end really creates the color that allows it to sound truly majestic - let them shine! Without 8 or 9 percussionists performing at their highest ability, I believe the piece isn’t done justice.
It’s a lot of fun and different, and stretches the students in potentially new ways. It’s a great introduction to Maslanka as time stays constant (unlike Mother Earth as a Grade 3) and hurt absolutely gorgeous. Would highly recommend playing it, just do YOUR homework on it so the students can properly understand the complexities of the middle “chorale” section.
Re: Illumination
Posted by George Strickland on 2/1/2024, 6:18 pm, in reply to "Illumination"
The 3A Honor Band, Mineola HS is performing this piece in their concert during TMEA..4 o’clock, Friday, This is a very exciting selection worthy of your consideration.