'Break a Reed!': Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble
Grade 5
Instrumentation
Solo ASx | Picc, 2 Fl, 2 Ob, 2 Bsn, 3 Cl, BCl, 2 ASx, TSx, BSx | 3 CTpt, 4 Hn, 3 Tbn, Euph, Tba | Pno, St Bs, Tmp, 4Perc
Break a Reed is a Broadway-themed concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble. The whole concerto primarily takes influence from Broadway, but with a dash of video game music, sacred music, and jazz. The title, Break a Reed! is a pun off of the phrase "Break a Leg" commonly said in lieu of "good luck" when actors are preparing to perform in the belief that it will cause bad luck. When I was in middle and high school band, I would say "break a reed" as it made more sense to woodwind players rather than "break a leg."
The piece was written in the Summer of 2018 under a different name and with two additional movements (that would later be cut), but was left alone after preliminary completion. I came back to the piece in the Fall of 2020 with fresh ears and mind, and made many adjustments and changes to the piece. Finally, after a long winter break of revisions and orchestrating, "Break a Reed" was completed.
There are many gimmicks that were inspired by Broadway such as little "fights," "conversations," and "collaborations," between the soloist and other characters that are depicted by members of the band. There is also a moment in the third movement where the band vocally reacts to the soloist during their time to show-off, as if they weren't already doing that in the rest of the piece.
I. Charm
Charm is a take on the standard types of Charm Songs that are found in almost any musical. The Solo Saxophone acts as the main character singing a very fast-paced and joyous tune serving to 'charm' the audience, so it made for an obvious choice of an opener for this work. Many "characters" join along in singing with the soloist by either providing a countermelody or playing the whole melody with them. The movement as a whole takes a very loose form of a common ragtime rondo (ABACADA').
II. Soliloquy
Soliloquy is a take on typical soliloquies found in many Broadway shows; it follows a main character as they express their emotions to the audience. In this movement, the soloist goes through a moment of questioning, then into peace, only for it to erupt into true joy and inspiration. Many other characters join in on the melody or repeat it back to show a sense of community throughout the ensemble, so that the main character is always reminded that they are never alone on their journey.
III. Eleven o'Clock
‘Eleven o'Clock’ was inspired by the show-stopping "Eleven o'Clock Numbers" that would commonly depict the main character having a huge revelation that solves the story's main conflict. This movement was the movement that took the most inspiration from video game music, mainly Mario Kart Wii. The soloist is performing fast technique that gets mimicked by the rest of the cast. During the middle section, the soloist faces some minor inner conflicts until they are able to shake it off and erupt into a flashy cadenza that the whole band reacts to.
Grade 5
Instrumentation
Solo ASx | Picc, 2 Fl, 2 Ob, 2 Bsn, 3 Cl, BCl, 2 ASx, TSx, BSx | 3 CTpt, 4 Hn, 3 Tbn, Euph, Tba | Pno, St Bs, Tmp, 4Perc
Break a Reed is a Broadway-themed concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble. The whole concerto primarily takes influence from Broadway, but with a dash of video game music, sacred music, and jazz. The title, Break a Reed! is a pun off of the phrase "Break a Leg" commonly said in lieu of "good luck" when actors are preparing to perform in the belief that it will cause bad luck. When I was in middle and high school band, I would say "break a reed" as it made more sense to woodwind players rather than "break a leg."
The piece was written in the Summer of 2018 under a different name and with two additional movements (that would later be cut), but was left alone after preliminary completion. I came back to the piece in the Fall of 2020 with fresh ears and mind, and made many adjustments and changes to the piece. Finally, after a long winter break of revisions and orchestrating, "Break a Reed" was completed.
There are many gimmicks that were inspired by Broadway such as little "fights," "conversations," and "collaborations," between the soloist and other characters that are depicted by members of the band. There is also a moment in the third movement where the band vocally reacts to the soloist during their time to show-off, as if they weren't already doing that in the rest of the piece.
I. Charm
Charm is a take on the standard types of Charm Songs that are found in almost any musical. The Solo Saxophone acts as the main character singing a very fast-paced and joyous tune serving to 'charm' the audience, so it made for an obvious choice of an opener for this work. Many "characters" join along in singing with the soloist by either providing a countermelody or playing the whole melody with them. The movement as a whole takes a very loose form of a common ragtime rondo (ABACADA').
II. Soliloquy
Soliloquy is a take on typical soliloquies found in many Broadway shows; it follows a main character as they express their emotions to the audience. In this movement, the soloist goes through a moment of questioning, then into peace, only for it to erupt into true joy and inspiration. Many other characters join in on the melody or repeat it back to show a sense of community throughout the ensemble, so that the main character is always reminded that they are never alone on their journey.
III. Eleven o'Clock
‘Eleven o'Clock’ was inspired by the show-stopping "Eleven o'Clock Numbers" that would commonly depict the main character having a huge revelation that solves the story's main conflict. This movement was the movement that took the most inspiration from video game music, mainly Mario Kart Wii. The soloist is performing fast technique that gets mimicked by the rest of the cast. During the middle section, the soloist faces some minor inner conflicts until they are able to shake it off and erupt into a flashy cadenza that the whole band reacts to.
Grade 5
Instrumentation
Solo ASx | Picc, 2 Fl, 2 Ob, 2 Bsn, 3 Cl, BCl, 2 ASx, TSx, BSx | 3 CTpt, 4 Hn, 3 Tbn, Euph, Tba | Pno, St Bs, Tmp, 4Perc
Break a Reed is a Broadway-themed concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble. The whole concerto primarily takes influence from Broadway, but with a dash of video game music, sacred music, and jazz. The title, Break a Reed! is a pun off of the phrase "Break a Leg" commonly said in lieu of "good luck" when actors are preparing to perform in the belief that it will cause bad luck. When I was in middle and high school band, I would say "break a reed" as it made more sense to woodwind players rather than "break a leg."
The piece was written in the Summer of 2018 under a different name and with two additional movements (that would later be cut), but was left alone after preliminary completion. I came back to the piece in the Fall of 2020 with fresh ears and mind, and made many adjustments and changes to the piece. Finally, after a long winter break of revisions and orchestrating, "Break a Reed" was completed.
There are many gimmicks that were inspired by Broadway such as little "fights," "conversations," and "collaborations," between the soloist and other characters that are depicted by members of the band. There is also a moment in the third movement where the band vocally reacts to the soloist during their time to show-off, as if they weren't already doing that in the rest of the piece.
I. Charm
Charm is a take on the standard types of Charm Songs that are found in almost any musical. The Solo Saxophone acts as the main character singing a very fast-paced and joyous tune serving to 'charm' the audience, so it made for an obvious choice of an opener for this work. Many "characters" join along in singing with the soloist by either providing a countermelody or playing the whole melody with them. The movement as a whole takes a very loose form of a common ragtime rondo (ABACADA').
II. Soliloquy
Soliloquy is a take on typical soliloquies found in many Broadway shows; it follows a main character as they express their emotions to the audience. In this movement, the soloist goes through a moment of questioning, then into peace, only for it to erupt into true joy and inspiration. Many other characters join in on the melody or repeat it back to show a sense of community throughout the ensemble, so that the main character is always reminded that they are never alone on their journey.
III. Eleven o'Clock
‘Eleven o'Clock’ was inspired by the show-stopping "Eleven o'Clock Numbers" that would commonly depict the main character having a huge revelation that solves the story's main conflict. This movement was the movement that took the most inspiration from video game music, mainly Mario Kart Wii. The soloist is performing fast technique that gets mimicked by the rest of the cast. During the middle section, the soloist faces some minor inner conflicts until they are able to shake it off and erupt into a flashy cadenza that the whole band reacts to.