Contemplation

Description

Flute, Oboe, Flute 2, Clarinet in Bb, Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Trumpet in Bb, Horn in F, Trombone, Euphonium, Bassoon, Bb Euphonium, Tuba, Mallet Percussion, Bells, Timpani, Percussion 1, Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Percussion 2, Triangle, Suspended Cymbal, Tambourine, Crash Cymbals — Contemplation: the action to look thoughtfully at something for a long time.When composing music that will be used with younger students, I want to stimulate thoughtfulness in them. In this particular piece I want the students to be able to stretch their musicianship beyond their experience on their instruments to play in a contemplative manner.xa0To me, this is the essence of musical playing in an emotional and thoughtful way. It is something that cannot be stressed enough, even in students that have just begun to play.xa0As soon as possible, they should be asked to put themselves into the music and make it more than the notes and rhythms on the page.This piece is my attempt to provide very young students, who are just beginning their musical journey, with something they can reach technically, but have to stretch for musically.xa0The amount ofxa0notes and rhythms is limited, but students should strive for beauty of tone, good phrasing and emotional involvement.After a short introduction, the heartfelt main theme begins at a lyrical and slow tempo. This is developed with the addition of a secondary theme, featuring the lower voices, before the piece leads to an Allegro section that is based on the same musical material with a difference in tempo and a variation in rhythm patterns.xa0The piece can serve to show students that the same basic music can have an entirely different emotional connection with differences in tempo, rhythm and style, with the first section of the piece being sentimental and the faster section being more joyous in nature.xa0 As with all of my pieces for younger students, it is completely acceptable to me for you to adjust the tempo to fit the educational needs of your students.It has been my pleasure to have the opportunity to write this piece. I hope you and your students enjoy it and find it useful for your program.—Larry ClarkLakeland, FL 2018 Contemplation by composer Larry Clarkis written in a contemplative manner for beginning students. It begins with a lush opening section with an elegant melody. This is contrasted by an uptempo section with a frolicking feel, which is a variation on the same musical material. Contemplationis a very musically gratifying piece for beginning wind players.

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