Balladair - Concert Band

Balladair

for Concert Band, easy level

Excerpts below are used by permission of GIA Publications, Inc., and are from "Teaching Music Through Performance In Band - Volume 3"

Frank Erickson grew up in Spokane, Washington.  His musical ablities included piano and trumpet, which he played in high school band.  As early as high school, he started composing music.  In the early 1950s, Erickson started writing band music.  In 1958, Balladair was published for concert band.  It is written in a modern dance style.  The harmonies are fairly traditional, with the exception that certain jazz harmonies and progressions have been utilized.  The main melodic idea of Balladair has a large compass, extending an octave and a third.  Erickson also skillfully uses doublings to make the band sound full and complete in its instrumentation.

Instrumentation: Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Eb Clarinet, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bb Clarinet, Eb Alto Clarinet, Bb Bass Clarinet, 1st and 2nd Eb Alto Saxophone, Bb Tenor Saxophone, Eb Baritone Saxophone, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bb Cornet, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th F Horn, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Trombone, Baritone BC, Baritone TC, String Bass, Tuba, Timpani, Drums.