Ardizzoia: Divertimento, Op. 66

Description

Composer's Note:

The Divertimento for Small Wind Ensemble and Percussion was commissioned by Bill Staub for the wind ensemble at East Carolina University. Specifically, he asked for a work that he could pair with Mozart's Gran Partita but that would use some of the instruments that Mozart "forgot" to include in his work. Incidentally, both Mozart's and Bill's instrumentations use 13 players.

I decided to write a suite that would both mirror and contrast with Mozart's serenade in terms of character, texture, and structure. The first movement, which flips Mozart's largo-allegro plan, is followed by two off-kilter "minuets" (in 5 and 7). These frame a central "inside-out" theme and variations. The final movement opens with a stately introduction followed by a buoyant, joyous rondo.

Instrumentation:

• Flute (doubles piccolo)
• 2 Clarinet
• 2 Alto Sax
• Tenor Sax
• Baritone Sax
• 2 Trumpet
• 2 Euphonium
• Tuba
• Percussion

Percussion needed: Suspended cymbal, wood block, xylophone, piccolo snare drum, vibraphone, triangle, glockenspiel, tambourine, 2 timpani