Pageant

From Wind Repertory Project

Vincent Persichetti

Vincent Persichetti


This work bears the designation Opus 59.


General Info

Year: 1953
Duration: c. 7:45
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Elkan Vogel, Inc / Theodore Presser Company
Cost: Score and Parts - $80.00   |   Score Only - $20.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II-III
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion I-II-III, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Snare Drum
  • Tenor Drum


Errata

2019 edition:

  • Flute/Piccolo, m.122: the arrival note should be a G, not an F as in the score


Program Notes

Pageant was commissioned by the American Bandmaster's Association and was completed in January 1953. It is Persichetti's third work for band. It opens in slow tempo with a motive in the horn that is used throughout both sections of the piece. The slow chordal section is succeeded by a lively "parade" section introduced by the snare drum. In the final portion of the work the two principal subjects are developed simultaneously to a lively climax.

The first performance of this work took place on 7 March 1953, at the ABA Convention in Miami, Florida. It was performed by the University of Miami Band, with the composer conducting.

- Program Note by composer


Pageant, op. 59 (1953) is the composer’s third work for band, commissioned by Edwin Franko Goldman for performance at the nineteenth annual convention of the American Bandmasters Association. The premiere was on March 7, 1953, by the University of Miami Band with Persichetti conducting.

The composer’s manuscript sketches show that Persichetti had originally intended to title the work Morning Music for Band -- the opening horn motive and the first theme in the clarinet choir have a serene, pastoral quality that evokes thoughts of sunrise. The opening horn call provides the motivic basis for the rest of the work, germinating long phrases supported by chordal harmonies. The phrases are passed around amongst various small choirs of instruments, exploiting the plethora of timbral and textural combinations possible in an ensemble of wind and percussion instruments. The tonal centers shift as often as the instrumentation, landing on a B-flat major chord that transitions into the second part of the work, the “parade.” In the Allegro second section, the snare drum provides a rhythmic version of the melodic material to follow. This section utilizes polytonality with multiple key centers existing in the music at the same time.

- Program Note from University of North Carolina Charlotte Wind Ensemble concert program, 20 October 2021


Media


State Ratings

  • Florida: V --- (The Florida Bandmasters Association denotes this as "significant literature.")
  • Mississippi: IV
  • Texas: IV


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Oklahoma Baptist University (Shawnee) Symphonic Winds (Timothy Kaiser, conductor) - 5 March 2026
  • James Madison University (Va.) Symphonic Band (Hannah Caraker, conductor) - 4 December 2025
  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Wind Ensemble (Christopher D. T. Lawhorne, conductor) - 22 April 2025
  • Indiana University (South Bend) Wind Ensemble (Dennis Gamble, conductor) - 16 April 2025
  • University of New Mexico (Albuquerque) Symphonic Band (Brett Penshorn, conductor) - 5 March 2025
  • Saint Louis (Mo.) Wind Symphony (Tom Poshak, conductor) – 16 February 2025
  • University of Arkansas (Fayetteville) Wind Symphony (Christopher Agwu, conductor) - 25 November 2024
  • Shippensburg Area Senior High School (PA) Concert Band (Morgan Feick, conductor) - 14 May 2024
  • Syracuse University (NY) Wind Ensemble (Benjamin Vermilyea, conductor) - 29 February 2024
  • Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) Symphonic Band (Cory Near, conductor) - 14 November 2023
  • Southern Illinois University (Edwardsville) Wind Ensemble (Christopher Morehouse, conductor) - 5 October 2023
  • Clovis (Calif.) North High School Wind Ensemble (David Lesser, conductor) - 24 March 2023 (2023 Sutherland Wind Festival (Fresno, Calif.)
  • Northern Kentucky University Symphonic Winds (Nikk Pilato, conductor) - 23 February 2023
  • Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches, Tx.) Symphonic Band (Chris Kaatz, conductor) - 18 October 2022
  • Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge) Symphonic Band (Patrick Forrester, conductor) - 28 April 2022
  • University of Utah (Salt Lake City) Wind Ensemble (Timothy Sexton, conductor) - 9 November 2021
  • Wheaton (Ill.) North High School Symphonic Band (Kent Krause, conductor) - 26 October 2021
  • Cleveland State University (Ohio) Alumni & Friends Band (Birch Browning, conductor) – 7 October 2021
  • Kennesaw (Ga.) State University Wind Ensemble (David Kehler, conductor) - 29 September 2021
  • Shepherd University (Shepherdstown, W.V.) Wind Ensemble (Ian Walton, conductor) - 7 May 2021
  • Anne Arundel Community College (Arnold, Md.) Concert Band (Paul Dembowski, conductor) - 9 December 2018
  • University of Miami Band (Vincent Persichetti, conductor) - 7 May 1953 *Premiere Performance

Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

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