Critical Mass
General Info
Year: 2010
Duration: c. 2:35
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Alfred Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $78.00 | Score Only - $15.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
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-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II, including:
- Bass Drum
- Bells
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tambourine
- Tom-Tom
- Triangle
- Wood Block
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
An explosion of sound sets off a chain reaction in this combustible work. As it launches forward, small melodic fragments grow and expand outward and upward, creating a powerful work that closes with a nuclear finish.
- Program Note from publisher
Critical mass is a scientific term that refers to the smallest amount of fissile material needed to sustain a nuclear chain reaction. The work begins with an explosion of sound, then launches forward through small, ever-growing melodic fragments that expand outward and upward.
- Program Note from score
Media
State Ratings
- Georgia: IV
- South Carolina: III
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Eastern Oklahoma State College Inaugural High School Honor Band (Wilburton) (Brian T. Harris, conductor) - 10 February 2023
- York High School (Retsof, N.Y.) Concert Band (Devin Vogel, conductor) - 22 December 2022
- Northern Illinois University (DeKalb) Wind Symphony (Dani'ca Richardson, conductor) – 21 October 2022
- Keokuk (Iowa) High School Symphonic Band (Jesse Deese, conductor) - 15 March 2022
- Riverside High School (Painesville, Ohio) Wind Ensemble (David A. Schwartz, conductor) - 30 January 2020
- Riverside High School (Painesville, Ohio) Wind Ensemble (David A. Schwartz, conductor) - 26 January 2020 (Severance Hall, Cleveland)
- University of South Alabama (Mobile) Symphony Band (Jason Rinehart, conductor) -– 26 September 2019
- Computech Middle School (Fresno, Calif.) Wind Ensemble (Marco Mellone, conductor) - 13 April 2018 (2018 San Joaquin Valley (Calif.) Concert Band Invitational)
- Thiel College (Greenville, Penn.) Concert Band (Brian T. Harris, conductor) - 7 April 2019
- Santa Monica (Calif.) High School Concert Band (Kevin McKeown, conductor) - 14 January 2014
Works for Winds by This Composer
Adaptable Music
- Escape Route (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
All Wind Works
- As the Robin to the Meadow (2006)
- The Capital March (as arranger) (1920/2014)
- Castles and Dragons (2005)
- Christmas Fanfares (2004)
- Clouds That Sail in Heaven (2007)
- Counterbalance (2013)
- Critical Mass (2010)
- Cut to the Chase (2012)
- The Dragon's Lair (2008)
- Dynamo (2015)
- Écossaise for Military Band (as arranger)
- Escape Route (2020)
- Escape Route (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
- Fighting Falcon March (2006)
- Gather Ye Rosebuds (2019)
- Glen Crossing (2010)
- Ignition (2011)
- In tantum lux (2016)
- Infinite Quest (2023)
- Knox Bridge Jubilee (2018)
- Lightning! (2004)
- Loco Motion (2015)
- Longthorpe Tower (2019)
- March, Opus 108 (as arranger) (1841/2011)
- Mechanism (2014)
- My Soul a Canvas (2019)
- Noel! (2010)
- On a Tear
- Poème (2007)
- Quasars (2009)
- Rampage! (2009)
- Rephrygeration (2016)
- Santa's Holiday Jam (as arranger) (2021)
- Scramble (2012)
- Shadows Unseen (2017)
- Shady Grove (2011)
- Sketches on a Kentucky Hymn Tune (2005)
- Three Welsh Songs (2013)
- Then I Saw the Lucent Sky (2008)
- Trumpets of Symphony Hall (2012)
- Two Renaissance Sketches (2009)
- Vier Deutsche Weihnachtslieder (as arranger)
- Whirlybird (2013)
- Wildflowers (2018)
- With Uncommon Valor (2017)
Resources
- Perusal score
- Stalter, T. (2010). Critical Mass [score]. Alfred Publishing Company: USA