Portrait of a Clown
by Frank Ticheli
Concert Band - Sheet Music

Concert band - Grade 2

SKU: MH.0-931329-22-1

Composed by Frank Ticheli. Suitable for middle school and high school bands. Conductor Full Score. Duration 2:45. Published by Manhattan Beach Music (MH.0-931329-22-1).

ISBN 9780931329227.

Composer's Notes: Portrait of a Clown is in ABA form surrounded by an eight-bar introduction and coda. The melody in the A section, first appearing in the flutes and oboe, is derived from the first five pitches of the Bb Lydian scale: B flat, C, D, E natural, and F. It should be performed in a bouncy, happy manner, and should always predominate. The middle section is flowing and melancholy, but without a change in tempo. It contains two melodies, one at letters D, E, and G, and the other at letter F in the clarinets and horns. Both melodies are marked "espressivo," and should always sing through. The return of the A section contains three statements of the Lydian melody: 1. with a walking bass in the low woodwinds and low brass; 2. with its inversion in the 1st trumpets; and 3. with a countermelody in the woodwinds. A brief coda recalls the introduction, and brings the piece to a close. The piece was scored in such a way as to permit performances by bands lacking sufficient depth in low woodwinds and low brass; therefore, those band directors who do have enough of these instruments should take great care in not allowing them to overpower the others. Ensemble instrumentation: 7 Flute and Oboe, 5 Bb Clarinet 1, 6 Bb Clarinet 2, 2 Bb Bass Clarinet, 5 Eb Alto Saxophones, 2 Bb Tenor Saxophones, 1 Eb Baritone Saxophone, 1 Bassoon, 4 Bb Cornet 1, 4 Bb Cornet 2, 3 Horns in F, 6 Trombone, 2 Euphonium (B.C.), 2 Euphonium (T.C.), 4 Tuba, 1 Xylophone, 5 Percussion.