Shell Game (6-Part Flex Band Gr. 5)

Shell Game musically represents the old game of trying to find a pea hidden under one of three shells which are always in motion. The pea appears and disappears and the game gets faster and faster until it ends with the final appearance of the pea.

Genre: 6-Part Flex Band | # of Players: 6+
Series: The SpectraFlex Series
Level: 5 | Duration: 3:20

Instrumentation
Transposed Score (showing all transposed parts)
Condensed Score (only "C" parts)

Adaptable Parts
(2 copies of each of all parts for each listed instrument)

Part 1: Piccolo (optional), Flute, Oboe, B-flat Clarinet

Part 2: Flute, Oboe, B-flat Clarinet, E-flat Alto Saxophone

Part 3: B-flat Clarinet, E-flat Alto Saxophone, B-flat Trumpet, F Horn

Part 4: B-flat Clarinet, E-flat Alto Saxophone, B-flat Trumpet, F Horn

Part 5: B-flat Tenor Saxophone, F Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Bassoon

Part 6: B-flat Bass Clarinet, E-flat Baritone Saxophone, Trombone, Euphonium, Bassoon, Tuba, Double Bass (optional)

Percussion Parts (100% optional)
Timpani (4 drums)
Percussion 1: Glockenspiel, Güiro, Ratchet, Tambourine, Crash Cymbals
Percussion 2: Vibraphone, Marimba [4-oct.], Triangle, Xylophone
Percussion 3: Triangle, Bass Drum, Piccolo Snare Drum, Suspended Cymbal, Field Drum


Program Notes
A “shell game” is a very old sleight-of-hand magic trick in which a pea or some other small object is moved between three cups or “shells.” The shells get moved around quickly by the operator and the trick is to figure out which shell the pea is under. However, when gambling is involved, it’s often a confidence game and illegal in most countries.

Shell Game begins as a light-hearted magic game and quickly turns into something more frenzied. A short burst of notes, stated by many different instruments at the very start, represent the pea appearing under different shells. But the game soon quickens until it’s almost impossible to tell where the pea is until the very end. The burst of notes from the beginning declares the final appearance of the pea.

ABOUT THE SERIES
The SpectraFlex Series for adaptable wind band offers flexibility with pieces across all grade levels, featuring traditional high-to-low scoring with 5 or 6 parts and optional percussion. Each part is transposed and playable by a multitude of wind or keyboard percussion instruments while maintaining the spectrum of sound we have grown to love about the wind band.