Winter Triptych

Winter Triptych was written in the fall of 2018, conceived as a multi-movement piece for grade 1 1/2. The same melodic phrase is used for all three movements with different historical backdrops. Percussion keyboards play an integral part in each piece, with some switching of instruments between songs. I made sure to write only seven percussion parts for each song to not overtax the personnel of smaller bands. The opening movement is a fanfare/overture that creates an exhilarating opening and finish with different colors (sonorities) of the band being presented in the middle, make sure the brass chorale is full and connected. The opening thematic material is used again to feature the percussion keyboards in the second movement. Let the woodwinds provide color to the melody, but not to overplay the percussion. The wind chimes should be multiple and of varying sizes to create the color needed. Let the students be creative and play with the movement/sound effects, to sound like winter wind. The flutes at the end, can either roll their head joints, or dip their heads to bend the pitch, creating a howling sound of the wind. They do not need to be together doing this. The sleigh bell should sneak in during the last fermata, combining it with the first measure of the third movement. The instrument should be a prominent sound during the last song. Let the melody bounce and have life, keeping the eighth notes light. When the keyboard melody of the second movement returns near the end, it is optional to add hand claps doubling the whip and a foot stomp doubling the bass drum.