Missouri Counterpoint (Band Gr. 5)

Commissioned for the 2021 Missouri All-State Band, Missouri Counterpoint celebrates the musical traditions of the state with "The Missouri Waltz" (the official state song) and the heritage of fiddle music & players.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 5 | Duration: 7:00

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
F Horn 3
F Horn 4
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
B-flat Baritone T.C.
Tuba

Timpani (4 drums)
Percussion 1: Xylophone, Bells
Percussion 2: Hi-Hat*, Tam-Tam*,Vibraphone, Bass Drum*
Percussion 3: Tambourine, Suspended Cymbal*, Marimba [4.5-oct.], 2 Brake Drums*, Tam-Tam*
Percussion 4: Crash Cymbals, Suspended Cymbal*
Percussion 5: 2 Brake Drums*, Snare Drum, Chimes, 4 Concert Toms*
Percussion 6: Bass Drum*, Hi-Hat*, 4 Concert Toms*

*Instruments may be shared

Program Notes
Missouri Counterpoint was commissioned by the Missouri Bandmaster's Association, Inc. for the 2021 Missouri All-State Band. At the onset of taking on this commission, I thought it would be appropriate to celebrate the musical traditions of the state of Missouri and two ideas came to the fore, The Missouri Waltz (Missouri's official State Song, adopted in 1949) and the heritage of fiddle music and fiddle players in Missouri. Therefore, the primary melodic material of the piece comes from The Missouri Waltz which has been popularized by many performing artists over the years. The middle section of the waltz is not as familiar to most people, but I have also used this material in the piece. When the waltz is put in quadruple meter and rhythmic diminution is applied, the waltz becomes a very lively “fiddling tune."

As the title suggests, there is counterpoint, imitation, polyphony, and heterophony throughout most of the work. Beginning in B-flat major, there is an introduction followed by a full presentation of the fiddle tune. This is followed by the fiddle tune in fugal imitation. While the fiddle tune continues the brass begin playing the waltz theme in quadruple meter. A brass fanfare follows in D-flat major and leads into a short fugal section on the fiddle tune set in 7/8 time. Following a modulation to C major, a percussion interlude features bells, vibraphone, and marimba in a heterophonic version of the fiddle tune. The work suddenly modulates into D minor, changes to 6/8 meter, and the middle section of the waltz is presented followed by the last phrases of the main waltz in A-flat major. A full percussion interlude follows with the keyboard instruments in canonic imitation. The work segues into a slow and expressive section where the waltz theme is morphed into a beautiful and lyrical melody. An oboe solo follows which leads to spirited section in fugal style based on the fiddle tune and then interrupted by the second section of the waltz in fugal style. The work intensifies and modulates to a tour-de-force in C major with the fiddle tune being played by the woodwinds against the waltz theme in the brass. A coda ensues with a modulation to a bright and celebratory close in D major.