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.
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