Spin (Band Gr. 4.5)

Spin is a brief, exciting concert band work inspired by the composer’s childhood family biking trips in southeastern Minnesota, with frequently-shifting rhythms, colorful orchestration and a racing tempo that represents a mile-long bike ride at a rapid pace.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 4.5 | Duration: 3:30

Instrumentation
Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Clarinet 1
B-flat Clarinet 2
B-flat Clarinet 3
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

B-flat Trumpet 1
B-flat Trumpet 2
B-flat Trumpet 3
F Horn 1
F Horn 2
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Trombone 3
Euphonium
B-flat Baritone T.C.
Tuba

Timpani (4 drums)
Xylophone
Snare Drum/Bass Drum
Crash Cymbals

Program Notes

Spin draws its title and inspiration from my childhood family biking trips on the scenic Root River State Trail in southeastern Minnesota. It is dedicated to my four primary music teachers throughout the course of my education: Timothy Mahr and Peter Hamlin at St. Olaf College, Keith Liuzzi at Minneapolis Southwest High School, and Jeffrey Ruhnke at Carondelet Catholic School. Spin was premiered in May 2019 by the Minnesota Symphonic Winds under the direction of Timothy Mahr.

While growing up, much of my outdoor time was spent on a bicycle, whether it be circling the Minneapolis chain of lakes, going on trips to my favorite neighborhood stores, or riding between home and school in all manners of Minnesota weather. Nothing, though, compared to my family’s annual bike trips near Lanesboro, Minnesota, where we would spend an entire weekend racing along the Root River State Trail, picking up faint signals of Minnesota Twins radio broadcasts, and stopping at little towns along the trail to catch our breath, grab a bite to eat and then power onward.

I’ve long wanted to write a piece of music that captures the spirit of racing along the trail at top speed in high gear, taking in the scenic surroundings while keeping up with my older sister in a bit of athletic sibling rivalry. The result was Spin, a brief and fast-paced piece for band that represents a mile-long bike ride at a rapid pace. Set in one continuous quick tempo, it uses frequently-shifting meters - primarily 7/8, 3/4 and 4/4, plus a bar of 9/8 - that call to mind the irregular rhythms of bike pedaling, with a few periodic moments of calm as the music coasts along before the pedal rhythms resume, building to a triumphant finale.