Cross Country (Band Gr. 4)

Written in memory of my dear friend and St. Olaf Band mate, Kelly Fulton, a talented euphonium player and decorated cross country runner who had a spirit and joy for living that inspired all who knew him. The band takes us on a journey of a cross country race, complete with ups and downs and a triumphant finish!

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

Instrumentation
Transposed Score (8.5"x11" stapled booklet)

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
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Euphonium
B-flat Euphonium T.C.
Tuba

Timpani (4 drums)
Mallets 1: Glockenspiel, Chimes
Mallets 2: Vibraphone, Marimba
Percussion 1 [2 players]: Snare Drum, Bass Drum
Percussion 2 [2 players]: Triangle, Medium Tom, Tambourine, Tam-Tam
Percussion 3: Suspended Cymbal, Crash Cymbals

Program Notes
Cross Country is written in memory of Kelly Fulton, dear friend and bandmate from St. Olaf College. Kelly's life was tragically cut short in a biking accident while he was riding to work, where he was a high school teacher and cross country coach in Bozeman, MT. Kelly had a spirit and joy for living that was an inspiration to all who knew him. Kelly was a talented euphonium player as well as a decorated collegiate cross country runner and I wanted the sounds of this piece to attempt to capture these elements of Kelly and his brilliant light that we miss so dearly now.

Imagine a beautiful Montana morning, sunny with a chill in the air, the euphonium solo opens the piece with a calm and hopeful melody, taking in the moment before the start of the race. Then the race begins, as the rhythmic groove is established. The race then encounters twists and turns, inclines, challenging the persistence of the runner. Finally, the music triumphantly approaches the finish line, returning to the opening theme but this time in a collective, bold statement given by the whole ensemble.