Appalachian Air (6-part flex)

Description

Daughtrey, Nathan – SpectraFlex Series
From the warmth of the opening chords in Appalachian Air you begin to sense the breadth of this impressive piece. Based on The Poor Wayfaring Stranger, the first half is poignant and touching followed by a surprisingly exuberant and uplifting second half. The fresh scoring and imaginative rhythmic interplay creates an exceptional artistic work.

Program Notes: Appalachian Air is based on the classic folk tune The Poor Wayfaring Stranger. With roots from an old irish melody, this song was passed on by word of mouth throughout the Appalachian Mountains for many years. The message carried by the song is a powerful one – although life may be full of woe and sorrow now, there is hope for salvation and a much brighter tomorrow.

The SpectraFlex Series for adaptable wind band offers flexibility with pieces across all grade levels, featuring traditional high-to-low scoring with 5 or 6 parts and optional percussion. Each part is transposed and playable by a multitude of wind or keyboard percussion instruments while maintaining the spectrum of sound we have grown to love about the wind band.

Grade: 3