Blue Midnight
General Info
Year: 2021 / 2022
Duration: c. 6:10
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: BandT Publications, through Print Music Source
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $105.00 | Score Only (print) - $15.00; (digital) - $28.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra-Alto Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Timpani
Percussion, including:
- Bells
- Crash Cymbals
- Drum Set
- Marimba
- Triangle
- Vibraphone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Blue Midnight is a recollection of sorts, of a time when a master taught trumpet to a student in the farm fields of western Pennsylvania. The names, Royce [Hetrick], Jim (myself), John and Brent (Royce’s sons) are notated to indicate the huge impact Royce has had on me and now his own family.
A favorite song, that I learned from Royce was 'Round Midnight by Thelonius Monk. It is a beautifully, haunting ballad that has stuck with me for the past 35 years. The opening section of Blue Midnight is loosely based on the diminished harmonic structure found in 'Round Midnight. It is preferred that a flugelhorn (if available) be used where Royce’s name is notated within the ballad section of this composition.
The second section is a remembrance of learning how to improvise over a blues progression. It begins with a call and response followed by a full-blown development of this material which evolves into the second theme. There are definite and intentional structural elements taken from works like Leonard Bernstein’s Cool as well as Oscar Peterson’s famous alteration of the Count Basie musical tag found at the end of Shiny Stockings as well other swing tunes.
- Program Note by composer
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Messiah University (Mechanicsburg, Penn.) Wind Ensemble (Jim Colonna, conductor) - 24 September 2021
- Brookville (Penn.) Area High School Concert Band (Kyle Grabigel. Conductor) – April 2021 *Premiere Performance*
Works for Winds by This Composer
- America Forever March (as arranger) (2001)
- Blue Midnight (2021/2022)
- Conversations with the Inner Child (2022)
- Dancing Day (2013)
- Danza con Gioia (2016)
- Dreamscapes (2004)
- Fanfare Antiphonal vox Gabrielli
- Fanfare on "Adeste Fidelis" (1995)
- Joshua's Shop of Miracles and Curiosities (2017)
- Persistence of Time (2001)
- Portraits (2000)
- The Pursuit of Happiness (2024)
- Seven (2009)
- The Soaring Eagle (1997)
- Tarantella (2024)
- To Slip the Surly Bonds of Earth (2011)
Resources
- Jim Colonna website Accessed 24 September 2021
- Perusal score