PURCHASE.
instrumentation.
Flute 1
Flute 2 Oboe 1 Oboe 2 Bassoon 1 Bassoon 2 Bb Clarinet 1 Bb Clarinet 2 Bb Clarinet 3 Alto Saxophone 1 Alto Saxophone 2 Tenor Saxophone Baritone Saxophone Bb Trumpet 1 Bb Trumpet 2 Bb Trumpet 3 F Horn 1 F Horn 2 F Horn 3 F Horn 4 Tenor Trombone 1 Tenor Trombone 2 Tenor Trombone 3 Euphonium Tuba Timpani Percussion 1: Xylophone Glockenspiel Percussion 2: Sandblocks Marimba Percussion 3: Ratchet Temple Blocks Triangle Snare Drum |
listen.about.Laura Pulley’s exuberant trek through the local zoo is as playful as it is majestic! With several sections dedicated to specific exhibits, each section is given plenty of opportunity to shine in this medium-length work.
Wild Explorations for wind ensemble was inspired by a trip taken to the local zoo. The opening theme, played by the horns, was written to capture the wonder of the zoo seen in the eyes of those who have never experienced anything similar before. The first exhibit the piece arrives at is the monkeys, based on a transcription of the gibbons’ howling that can be heard outside the zoo. As the listener moves on to the next exhibit, and each exhibit following, the original zoo theme returns. This is followed by the majestic elephants in the largest enclosure in the zoo. The next exhibit houses not only birds, which are heard first, but the three-toed sloth seen slowly making its way through the same trees that the birds are perched in. The transition to the sloth occurs by the low brass and horns playing cluster chords of three notes, representing the three toes of the sloth, moving up and down chromatically as the sloth gradually comes into view. The zoo theme is then heard again as the listeners move out of the bird exhibit to that of the peacock. This section opens like the tail of the peacock, growing until the full scale of its beauty can be seen, followed by a waltz-like section as the peacock is seen attempting to attract a mate. The piece then closes with the zoo theme as the listeners make their way back to the front of the park, and are left with the hope that one day, they will return.
piece information.
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