Sea Chanteys

Sea Chanteys is a fun yet soulful, sophisticated yet accessible, two-movement work for wind band. Presenting extreme contrasts of orchestration, texture and color, this romantic tone poem evokes existential moments at sea, offering a wide variety of expressive solo and soli exposures and interaction, unique percussion contributions, profound harmonic effects, and engaging rhythmic verve.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 4 | Duration: 8:00

Instrumentation
Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe 1
Oboe 2
Bassoon 1
Bassoon 2
Bb Clarinet 1
Bb Clarinet 2
Bb Clarinet 3
Bb Bass Clarinet
Eb Alto Saxophone 1
Eb Alto Saxophone 2
Bb Tenor Saxophone
Eb Baritone Saxophone

Bb Trumpet 1
Bb Trumpet 2
Bb Trumpet 3
F Horn 1/2
F Horn 3/4
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Trombone 3
Euphonium
Baritone T.C.
Tuba

String Bass

Timpani (4 drums)
Glockenspiel & Marimba
Vibraphone & Slapstick
Percussion 1 (Snare Drum, 2 Concert Toms)
Percussion 2 (Bass Drum, Large Bass Drum)
Percussion 3 (Ocean Drum, Crash Cymbals, Triangle, Tam-Tam)
Percussion 4 (Suspended Cymbal, Bongos)

Program Notes
Sea Chanteys is a fun yet soulful, sophisticated yet accessible, two-movement work for the proficient wind band. Presenting extreme contrasts of orchestration, texture and color, this romantic tone poem evokes existential moments at sea, offering a wide variety of expressive solo and soli exposures and interaction, unique percussion contributions, profound harmonic effects, and engaging rhythmic verve

The first movement, Salts and Sails, is a sentimental reflection of the spirited life often conveyed in songs of the sea. We hear the gentle sigh of the surf, feel the rolling, swelling surge of the waves, and imagine the billowing sails of great ships in passage. In movement two, Buccaneers' Regatta, we are launched into an ancient mariner's legendary race between his heroic shipmates and a nefarious ship commandeered by vile scoundrels. While waves crash and cannons fire, ships' riggings whip in the rushing wind, and flocks of sea birds circle over decks awash. Grand adventure on the high seas!

Sea Chanteys was a finalist in the 2nd International Frank Ticheli Composition Contest.

- Bill Hoehne