Wind EnsembleMedium6:15

Reckoning

“…hope quickly transforms into a more active, kinetic energy—a musical uprising…”

Listen to Reckoning

Performed by the Sherwood High School Wind Ensemble
Conductor Brant Stai

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Reckoning

Program Note

By Michael Markowski

Reckoning began as a musical underdog story: an unlikely hero’s determination to right certain wrongs that had been brought upon him or her in the past and that hero’s ambition to prove that they are “a force to be reckoned with.” I often liken it to a David and Goliath type of story: small versus big, poor versus rich. For example, the piece opens in a dark and oppressive world full of despair and anguish, but from within that darkness comes a very beautiful, very fragile, very hopeful oboe solo. However, this hope quickly transforms into a more active, kinetic energy—a musical uprising. Several families of instruments join the dialogue, voicing their grievances, adding to the collective resistance. By measure 90, the ensemble fully pledges their allegiance as a more majestic and heroic french horn theme ascends to the fore, literally rising quarter note by quarter note above the anxious eighth note theme. From here, they plot their next move. But will it be enough?

Reckoning premiered on January 14, 2017 in Tampa, Florida conducted by Captain Shanti C. Simon.

Commissioned By

The Florida Bandmasters Association for the 2017 All-State Concert Band.

Premiere

Reckoning premiered on January 14, 2017 in Tampa, Florida performed by the Florida All-State Concert Band conducted by Captain Shanti C. Simon.

View program here.

Publisher

Markowski Creative (ASCAP)

Instrumentation

Piccolo
Flute 1 & 2
Oboe 1 & 2
Bassoon 1 & 2
B-flat Clarinet 1-4
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1 & 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

B-flat Trumpet 1-3
Horn 1-4
Trombone 1-3
Euphonium 1 & 2
Tuba 1 & 2

String Bass

Timpani
P1) Glockenspiel, Crash Cymbal, Bongos
P2) Vibraphone, Suspended Cymbal
P3) Chimes, Marimba
P4) Two Concert Toms, Splash Cymbal, Shaker, Triangle
P5) Suspended Cymbal, Snare Drum, China Cymbal
P6) Tam-Tam, Tambourine
P7) Bass Drum

Errata

No known errata.

Year Completed

2017

Weight N/A
Dimensions N/A
Duration

Genre

Wind Ensemble