Fanatic Fanfare

Concert band, 2005

Duration: 7-1/2 minutes

perusal score

Instrumentation:
Piccolo
2 Flutes
2 Oboes
2 Bassoons
Contra-bassoon
Clarinet in Eb
3 Clarinets in Bb
Bass Clarinet in Bb
Contrabass Clarinet in Bb
2 Alto Saxophones
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
4 Trumpets in Bb
4 Horns in F
2 Trombones
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
6 Percussionists
    1: Piccolo Snare Drum
    2: Field Drum, Slapstick
    3: 4 Tom-toms
    4: 3 Suspended Cymbals, Large Sizzle Cymbal, Slapstick
    5: Small Bass Drum
    6: Vibraslap, Tambourine, Large Suspended Cymbal, Glockenspiel, Xylophone
Double Bass

Note on instrumentation: If Oboe or Bassoon are unavailable, cues are provided in other parts. The Contra Bass Clarinet, Contrabassoon, and Double Bass are all highly desirable, though not essential, as they have no independent parts.

Program Note: The piece opens with percussion reminiscent of a marching band, moving to a celebratory opening theme. This is interrupted after some development by a fragment of the K K Psi’s national “Fraternity Hymn”, itself based upon the traditional hymn “Someday”. The energetic music returns, develops further, eventually speeds up and transforms into a raucous collage built upon a college fight song based on the harmony, and fragments of the melody, from “Orange and Blue”. The chaos subsides, the hymn returns, and the piece ends with a recapitulation of the original theme. The enthusiasm of Alpha Eta brothers for all things musical inspired this energetic piece, and they are true fanatics in the best sense of the word (from the Modern Latin “fanaticus”, meaning “insanely but divinely inspired”).

Fanatic Fanfare was commissioned by the Alpha Eta chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity, in celebration of their 75th anniversary of service and music making at The University of Florida.

Audio sample