— Band version —
Surround-sound
“Blows the audience away”
3 movements. 25 minutes. Grade 5
2nd movement features a euphonium soloist
FINALIST, 2013 American Prize for Composition
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BLOWS THE AUDIENCE AWAY
I have conducted this work on several occasions and it always blows the audience away. All of Ayers’s works are extremely well-crafted by a composer who really knows and respects the concert band.
REDUCED BRASS VERSION
A reduced brass version is available.
Full brass: 6 tp, 4 hn, 4 tbn, 2 euph, 2 tba.
Reduced: 3 tp, 4 hn, 3 tbn, 1 euph, 1 tba
Please contact us for information.
Also available for orchestra
Excerpt from 3rd movement
Complete recordings of all 3 movements are available on the VIDEOS page
Instrumentation notes
- The brass are split into two choirs, one of each side of the audience.
- Total brass parts: 6 trps, 4 hns, 4 trbs, 2 euphs, 2 tubas.
- Reduced brass version: 3 trps, 4 hns, 3 trbs, 1 euph, 1 tuba.
- The entire 2nd movement is a lightly-accompanied euph solo that requires a fine player.
- Several extra “performers” twirl whistling tubes in the 2nd & 3rd movements. These performers can be guests such as local students, board members, or dignitaries. (One of the “twirlers” should be a bona fide musician who has rehearsed with the band to serve as a “twirl-when-I-twirl” leader.
The tubes are available from toy stores and online retailers like Amazon. A Google search for “whistling tubes” should locate them.
Performed by:
- Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra, Sheldon Bair, conducting
- Windiana Concert Band, Dr. Jeffrey Scott Doebler, conducting
- University of Rhode Island Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Dr. Gene Pollart, conducting
- Concordia Wind Orchestra, Dr. Jeff Held, conducting
- The Slovenian Armed Forces Orchestra; Milivoj Surbek, conducting; as part of the 2003 ISCM World Music Days new music festival.
- The California State University – Bakersfield Concert Band; Doug Davis, conducting.
- Valparaiso University Chamber Concert Band, Dr. Jeffrey Scott Doebler, conducting
- Heidelberg College Symphonic Band, Dr. John Owens, conducting
- Concordia University Chicago Wind Symphony, Dr. Richard Fischer, conducting
- Virginia Intercollegiate Honors Band, Dr. Jesse Ayers, conducting
- University of Kentucky Wind Ensemble, Dr. Richard Clary, conducting
Windiana Presents Ayers Biblical Epics Triolgy
The Windiana Concert Band, under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Scott Doebler, presented a program on November 17, 2011, of the three large Biblical works by composer Jesse Ayers. The works performed were AND THEY GATHERED ON MOUNT CARMEL, JERICHO, and RAHAB. Mezzo-soprano Beth Ray Westlund sang the role of Rahab. The concert was held at the historic Memorial Opera House, Valparaiso, Indiana, a venue used by the Sousa Band.
Other Works Based on the Old Testament
