Cinque Quattro Alla Marcia

Concert Band

4' 05"

Late 2003, after the State Honours Ensemble Program in October.

Competition and Composition: New Music for Schools. Education Queensland and the Young Conservatorium Griffith University

This work formed part of the Competition and Composition project and the report and response from Jeanette Douglas (linked below) describes much about the context in which this work was written. This was the prize for the primary school band in that competition. What may not be well canvassed there is that I had in mind to write a 5/4 'grand' march for some time and with this project in play the chance to then write one presented itself. Knowing that the work was to be written for good primary school-aged musicians helped form the musical material as my reflections below describe. Jeanette Douglas is one of this country's finest instrumental music teachers. Her preparation of the ensemble and her generous spirit is, as always, focused on the finest outcomes for her students. She is a valued colleague and friend.

3rd April 2004, Taranganba Primary School, at the concert hall of Yeppoon State High School, Yeppoon, Queensland, Australia - Jeanette Douglas, Director
Subsequent performances:

• Various school and community band performances related to inclusion on select repertoire lists for contest and festival both in Australia and the USA

Brolga Music Publishing Company, Brisbane, Australia www.brolgamusic.com

Sketch, Manuscript Score, Engraved score

Recorded during October 2002 by the Conservatorium Wind Orchestra at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.

Report on new music - Douglas
ASBOA
Correspondence Douglas
Newspaper article
The students from the Conservatorium who responded to the survey on this work and 'My Sister's Tears', at the confirmation event, suggested that this work was effective but a little repetitive and, therefore, for some, boring. Interestingly, it is accepted that repetition for young players, and in other learning areas, is of benefit and is attractive to younger students (primary school and early high school particularly). The work has featured on festival lists across the country.

As I work through these synopses I find myself saying again and again, "I like this piece" - and I do so here as well. There is no doubt that the pedagogy informs how I write for young musicians and here its fingerprints are evident. I enjoy the way the work is structured and how it comes full circle to finish clearly and boldly. I appreciate the manner in which the harmony moves and shapes lines; I enjoy the scoring and the timbral mix; the counter melodic writing is solid and the technical demands appropriate to the skill and musicianship levels of the players involved in the premiere. I wonder why it hasn't sold very well?