Gators on the Neches
Digital Sheet Music

Concert Band - Intermediate - Digital Download

SKU: S0.659043

Composed by Kelly Bennette. 21st Century,Recital,Americana. Score,Set of Parts. 77 pages. Published by Kelly Bennette (S0.659043).

I grew up in south east Texas in the city of Groves. This was near the end of the Neches River which flowed into Sabine Lake. The Neches was a fairly wide river between Port Arthur and Beaumont and could easily accommodate the big ships that made their way up to the Ports of Port Neches and Beaumont. In my younger years I would sail my small sailboat on the Neches. On many occasions I would see alligators and would chase them with the sailboat. The gator would make turns to avoid me and I would follow. This was a good exercise in changing sail position and direction. There are several motifs present in this short composition. At measure 8 (about 16 seconds) the low brass makes the sound of a ship’s horn while the rhythm in the tom tom part represents a motorcycle idling in the parking lot of Port Neches Park. A measure later there is a descending minor third on the flute and glockenspiel parts that represents the seagull. This motif is heard several times. At measure 13 (23 seconds), we have a theme the represents the alligator. At measure 26 (about 48 seconds) the theme for the sailboat is introduced. At measure 38 (about 1:00) is the chase theme. The B section in this ABA piece starts at measure 56 (about 1:44) and represents the peace and tranquility that can be found on the Neches. Measure 100 (3:30) is a repeat of the A section.  .