Suite in B-flat

Suite in B-flat is in three movements. The first section is jaunty and lighthearted, the second is subdued and tranquil, whilst the third is a symphonic march which gives the bands plenty of chance to blow their socks off.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 5 | Duration: 12:00

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

Cornet 1
Cornet 2
Cornet 3
Trumpet 1
Trumpet 2
Horn 1
Horn 2
Horn 3
Horn 4
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Trombone 3
Euphonium
Tuba

String Bass

Timpani
Percussion [3 players] (snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, triangle,glockenspiel)

Program Notes
British composer Gordon Jacob ranks as one of the world's foremost contributors to the wind ensemble repertoire, with hundreds of works for military band as well as other types of musical groups. He earned his Doctor of Music degree and also taught counterpoint, orchestration and composition for 40 years at the Royal College of Music. He wrote band works along the lines of Gustav Holst and his good friend Vaughan Williams – not imitating their style but, as he said, "striving to come near to their spirit of adventure and independence of thought" in his own work.

The Suite in B-flat was originally written for Brass Band in 1955 and was arranged for symphonic band in 1979. It has three movements, opening with a lighthearted March, followed by a subdued and tranquil movement entitled "Solemn Music." The suite closes with a symphonic march, which showcases the power of the wind ensemble.