CO-OP PRESS

Featuring the music of Sy Brandon

Celebration of Flight (SAT Saxes) (2003) commemorates the 100^th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first controlled flight by an aircraft using its own power.

The first movement, “Inspirations”, musically represents the influences on our imagination to fly like a bird. Bird sounds are heard early in the movement as a trill-like figure. It first appears in the violin and then moves to the saxophone. The rapid triplet figures and the opening melodic material represent the swooping and soaring of birds. Early experiments with gliders are represented in the second section of the piece. The dangers are expressed in the double stop melody in the violin and soaring is expressed in the scale passages in the saxophone. The movement ends with a question mark, raising doubt that humans would ever fly.

The second movement, “Experiments”, begins with a four-measure theme that goes through a number of transformations throughout the movement. It represents the basic idea of the Wright Flyer and its adjustments made to enable it to fly with control. A dotted rhythm motif represents the determination of the Wright Brothers. A continuous sixteenth note passage represents the wind tunnel experiments. A quieter passage that is harmonized in thirds represents contemplation and it appears several times during the movement. It is most extensive at the end of the movement as the Wright Brothers examine their newfound knowledge and make the needed adjustments. Immediately preceding the final contemplative section is an intense soaring theme in quarter notes representing the Wright Brothers successful kite and glider experiments.

The last movement, “Triumphs”, begins with a celebratory section in 7/8 and 6/8. After this festive beginning, a sustained melody in the violin represents the first flight that lasted 12 seconds with Orville at the controls. This melody also lasts 12 seconds. Accompanying the sustained melody is the steady staccato eighth note rhythm in the saxophone representing the sound of the motor. After a short celebratory section, The saxophone begins the sustained “melody of flight” as now Wilbur is at the controls. The staccato eighth note “motor” accompaniment changes into a flowing triplet figure during 59-second flight, the longest of 1903. The “flight” melody now lasts 59 seconds as well. After a “soft” landing of the “flight” melody, the violin brings the listener back to the “celebration” theme that ends the piece in a festive and exciting manner. Grade 4 $17.00