#32 Suggested Repertoire from Around the World for Developing Bands

This 32nd installment of suggested repertoire is proposed by Dr. Ruben Dario Gomez, a Colombian composer and conductor who currently serves as the Director of Bands at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, the Associate Director of the Saint Louis Wind Symphony, and co-director of the Edwardsville Municipal Band. He is a current member of the WASBE booard of Directors.

Grade 3

Three Songs from Bengal (2019) – 5'30" – Purchase at Murphy Music Press

Aakash Mittal (USA, 1984)

This work demonstrates Mittal’s deep interest in the music of Bengal, attributable not only to his Indian heritage but also to his direct experience with the musical traditions of West Bengal during a period of residence in India, where he studied their music. This composition consists of three arrangements that feature the works of composers Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, and the Baul tradition. Through straightforward and accessible rhythms and melodies, young musicians will be introduced to captivating sonorities not found in any other pieces of comparable difficulty.

The first movement is both mysterious and energetic, utilizing melodies in eolian mode that closely resemble the original song by Tagore. Its orchestration is robust and sonorous, with clear differentiation between the musical elements, thereby facilitating students' comprehensive understanding of the musical discourse. The second movement combines standard writing in the winds with some aleatoric approaches in the percussion section, ideal for introducing young players to unconventional composition methods. The augmented second, present in the melodic minor scale, is effectively used here, as it sounds very organic and natural. The overall harmonic atmosphere is a combination of C harmonic minor and G Phrygian dominant. The third movement extensively employs body percussion throughout the ensemble, offering a notable contrast, an excellent opportunity to enhance visual elements, and a substantial appeal to both performers and the audience. The simplicity of the rhythmic content contrasts with the numerous opportunities available for the development of expressivity and dynamic contrast.

The percussion section utilizes standard instruments commonly found in youth bands to emulate ethnic sounds; additionally, it features a line for the Tabla, one of the most traditional percussion instruments in Indian and South Asian music.

Aakash Mittal is an American composer, saxophonist, and improviser whose career is distinguished by numerous innovative and creative endeavors. His fascination with raga music, integrated with jazz elements and other improvisational techniques, is clearly evident across his recordings and compositions for both large and small ensembles. Mittal holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, as well as numerous awards and fellowships, including the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music Fellowship and the American Institute of Indian Studies Creative and Performing Arts Fellowship.

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Grade 2

Canto (1977) – 4' – Purchase at Southern Music Company

Fancis McBeth (USA, 1933-2012)

Canto is among the few works by American composer Francis McBeth composed specifically for young ensembles. It is an excellent piece to introduce young musicians to the musical language of this significant figure in band literature. The All-Japan Band Association commissioned the piece for use in their 1978 national contest by Japanese Junior High School bands.

The composer drew inspiration from the Japanese folk song Sakura as the primary melodic source for the composition. The main theme is repeated multiple times with different ranges, textures, and densities, allowing various instrumental sections to be highlighted. The percussive aspect of the piece is crucial, with both the winds and the percussion sections contributing to its energy. The wind players have several instances of clapping, interacting with the melody. The percussion section requests as many percussionists as possible, offering an excellent opportunity to maintain student engagement. The texture is very compact, and most of the time, there are only two main musical elements in the winds, plus the driving rhythmic cells provided by the drums. Although the piece is mainly tonal, the harmonies are unconventional for the music typically used in band repertoire at this difficulty level, which provides directors with a valuable pedagogical tool and an excellent contrast in any concert program.

Canto offers several opportunities to work on different individual and collective abilities. The majority of the melodies in unison or octaves require the students to find good intonation within their section and across the ensemble. The thickly orchestrated harmonies require careful tone control to stay balanced with the melody and need ongoing pitch adjustments to ensure the chords sound warm and resonant.

Francis McBeth (1933-2012) is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the American band movement in the second half of the twentieth century. His modernized version of the pyramid sound concept, initially introduced by Wilhelm Wieprecht in the late 19th century, has had a significant impact on concert band sound practices worldwide over the past few decades.

Grade 4

Suite Pa' Juan (2010) – 8' – Purchase here

Oscar Fernando Trujillo (Colombia, 1981)

Suite Pa’ Juan is a three-movement composition by Colombian composer Oscar Fernando Trujillo. It is inspired by the birth of his first son, Juan Esteban, with each movement depicting a particular emotion felt by the couple—covering the moment they received the news, the birth, and the family’s celebration. The initial movement, titled 'Buena Nueva' (Good News), is composed in the style of Bambuco, a prominent rhythm originating from the composer’s native region. The energetic tempo and angular melodies effectively express the couple’s enthusiasm regarding their pregnancy. The second movement, “Nacimiento” (Birth), is a lullaby using another traditional Colombian style called Guabina. Through beautiful harmonies and delicate textures, the composer uses melodies in solo instruments to emulate a dialogue between some family members around the newborn. The overall character is gentle and calm, as if they are attempting to lull the baby to sleep. The final movement, “Celebración” (Celebration), employs the traditional style from the Caribbean coast of Colombia called Cumbia, and it serves as an excellent depiction of the family’s joy in welcoming a new member. It includes a quasi-improvisatory clarinet solo, which is an essential component of the Colombian cumbias. The structure of the piece is clear, and the angular characteristic of the initial theme is consistently reflected across most of the melodic lines. All the main themes from each movement recur at the end of the piece, creating a sense of cohesiveness and unity.

Pa’ Juan is an excellent piece to introduce bands around the world to three of the most popular styles of Colombian music: Bambuco, Guabina, and Cumbia. The composer approached these styles in a very accessible way, avoiding unnecessary rhythmic complexities while still capturing the main essence of each style.

Oscar Fernando Trujillo is a Colombian composer and trumpet player. He is the current trumpet professor at Universidad de Caldas (Colombia), he is a Yamaha artist, and the director and founder of Seminario Redentorista Conservatory. He has an extensive career as a soloist and composer, with engagements in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the United States.

Grade 3

Three Folk Miniatures (1986) – 5' – Purchase at C.L. Barnhouse

Andre Jutras (Canada, 1957)

Canadian composer Andre Jutras composed this piece using three French-Canadian folk songs: V’la la’bon Vent (Here is the Good Wind), Isabeau s’y Promène (Isabeau Walks There), and Les Raftmen. The three movements follow a theme-and-variation structure. The first movement features a song composed centuries ago, likely introduced to Canada in the 17th century. It maintains a lively energy both in its original form and in Jutras' band performance. A variation appears in the middle, performed at a slower tempo, with a beautiful exchange between the oboe and the euphonium.

The folk song from the second movement has been preserved in both dance and song formats; Jutras chose the latter option. The moving story behind the piece is beautifully conveyed in this band arrangement. The composer switches between the woodwind and brass sections to present each statement of the song, reserving the full ensemble for a special moment near the end of the movement, which concludes on a somber note. The final song narrates the story of a group of loggers who, despite their hardships, always make time to sing and dance. It is a lively melody played three times in different keys, giving each wind instrument a chance to perform it. Three Folk Miniatures is a versatile piece that band directors can incorporate in various ways: it highlights the use of folk songs within band literature, serves as an effective storytelling tool, and features a clear orchestration that provides students with a valuable opportunity to enhance their technique, tone, and expressive skills.

Andre Jutras is a Canadian composer, arranger, oboist, saxophonist, and conductor. His creative interests encompass the use of French-Canadian folk songs, as well as jazz and serial music. Notable positions include his role as an oboist and English horn player with the L’Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec, the position of staff conductor with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and numerous conducting engagements with various orchestras and bands across Canada. He is also the recipient of the Jean-Marie Baudet Award as one of Canada’s most gifted young conductors, awarded by the Canada Council for the Arts in 1922 and 1993.

Grade 3.5

Tango (from Ritmos de la Tierra) (2017) – 4'15'' – Purchase at Victoriano Valencia

Victoriano Valencia (Colombia, 1970)

Tango is a musical genre and dance originating in Argentina that UNESCO has recognized as intangible cultural heritage of humanity. This genre has spread to various countries, including France, Mexico, and Colombia. The most common instrumental configurations include guitar, piano, violin, bass, and especially bandoneon. Tangos can be sung, and their lyrics usually focus on love, often with a nostalgic tone.

This particular Tango by Colombian composer Victoriano Valencia is part of his Ritmos de la Tierra Collection, a set of 10 pieces inspired by different Latin American styles. The piece portrays the most notorious characteristics of the style, with some interesting additions; the most important is the inclusion of symphonic percussion, which is not part of the original genre. Astor Piazzolla, the most influential composer and performer of modern tango, is almost inevitably cited here, particularly through characteristic chromatic movements in the harmony. Interestingly, Valencia combines this influence with aspects of his own compositional style, making this tango distinctive and engaging. Other influences and inspirations include traditional artists like Anibal Troilo and Carlos Gardel, as well as the latest MJC Trio, a groundbreaking ensemble from Argentina with which Valencia worked closely on a recording project that combined a traditional tango ensemble with the symphonic band sound.

Victoriano Valencia is the most prominent Colombian composer today. His main focus is on producing music for symphonic and popular ensembles, along with researching educational topics and creating pedagogical materials. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Universidad Pedagógica Nacional (Bogotá, 1995) and a master’s degree in composition from Eafit University (Medellín, 2012). Embracing the aesthetics of multiple identities between the popular and academic, his works have been performed in over 30 countries across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. He writes for both professional ensembles and educational projects. Currently, he is a full-time professor at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá. He is a member of WASBE and ACCOMPÁS, the Colombian Association of Composers for Band.

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