Odyssey

Bright, dramatic, calming, rhythmic excitement - Odyssey is all these things wrapped within four variations in contrasting styles. The techniques of variation are wonderful models of the composers masterful craft. The piece is designed to capture the audience and stimulate the performers.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 4 | Duration: 15:00

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

Bb Trumpet 1
Bb Trumpet 2
Bb Trumpet 3
Horn 1/2
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Euphonium
Tuba

Timpani (4 drums)
Mallets (xylophone, chimes, vibraphone, marimba)
Percussion 1 (bass drum, snare drum, triangle)
Percussion 2 (4 tom-toms, tambourine, triangle)
Percussion 3 (crash cymbal, suspended cymbal, sleigh bells)

Program Notes
Odyssey is a theme and variations modeled after Elgar's Enigma Variations. Composed in the winter of 1998, it is a tribute to composer/arranger Robert S. Thurston - one of my teachers. Odyssey started out as a mere exercise. I tried a march first. That was so much fun, and so well received, the I decided to do a series of variations and connect them. Following a brief introduction, Odyssey is composed of four variations in contrasting styles: Ballad, March, Chorale, and Mixed Meter. Although the theme is never stated verbatim, the ballad appears at both the beginning and end because it is most similar to the theme in style and form.

- Kimberly K. Archer