AN EXAMINATION OF THE WORKS OF FLOURISH FOR WIND BAND BY RALPH VAUGHN WILLIAMS, AIR FOR BAND BY FRANK ERICKSON, AN AMERICAN ELEGY BY FRANK TICHELI, ROUGH RIDERS BY KARL KING, ARRANGED BY JAMES SWEARINGEN by TRAVIS JOHNSON B.M.E., University of Oklahoma, 1997 A REPORT submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF MUSIC Department of Music College of Arts and Sciences KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2010 Approved by: Major Professor Dr. Frank Tracz Abstract This document was written after examination, research, score analysis, and lesson planning in preparation for the Graduate Conducting Recital of Travis M. Johnson. This recital was held on Monday, March 8, 2010 at the Cheney High School Auditorium at 6:00 pm. A philosophy of Music Education and criteria for quality literature selection is followed by the theoretical and historical analysis of four works; Flourish for Wind Band by Ralph Vaughn Williams, Air for Band by Frank Erickson, An American Elegy by Frank Ticheli, and Rough Riders by Karl King arranged by James Swearingen. Lesson plans, rehearsal aids, warm up exercises, and student assignments are included in the examination of this process. Table of Contents List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ vi List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1 - Introduction and Report Information ..................................................................... 1 Introduction and Statement of Purpose ....................................................................................... 1 Performance Information ............................................................................................................ 1 Music Examined ......................................................................................................................... 1 Format of Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 1 Concert Program ......................................................................................................................... 2 CHAPTER 2 - Music Education Mission Statement ...................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 3 - Quality Literature Selection ................................................................................. 12 CHAPTER 4 - Flourish for Wind Band ........................................................................................ 15 Unit I. Ralph Vaughn Williams ................................................................................................ 15 Unit II. Composition ................................................................................................................. 17 Unit III. Historical Perspective ................................................................................................. 18 Unit IV. Technical Considerations ........................................................................................... 18 Unit V. Stylistic Considerations ............................................................................................... 21 Unit VI. Musical Elements ....................................................................................................... 24 Unit VII. Form and Structure .................................................................................................... 25 Unit VIII. Suggested Listening ................................................................................................. 26 Unit IX. Seating Chart and Acoustical Justification ................................................................. 27 CHAPTER 5 - Air for Band.......................................................................................................... 29 Unit I. Frank Erickson .............................................................................................................. 29 Unit II. Composition ................................................................................................................. 31 Unit III. Historical Perspective ................................................................................................. 32 Unit IV. Technical Considerations ........................................................................................... 32 Unit V. Stylistic Considerations ............................................................................................... 35 Unit VI. Musical Elements ....................................................................................................... 38 Unit VII. Form and Structure .................................................................................................... 40 iii Unit VIII. Suggested Listening ................................................................................................. 41 Unit IX. Seating Chart and Acoustical Justification ................................................................. 41 CHAPTER 6 - An American Elegy .............................................................................................. 43 Unit I. Frank Ticheli ................................................................................................................. 43 Unit II. Composition ................................................................................................................. 45 Unit III. Historical Perspective ................................................................................................. 46 Unit IV. Technical Considerations ........................................................................................... 47 Unit V. Stylistic Considerations ............................................................................................... 50 Unit VI. Musical Elements ....................................................................................................... 55 Unit VII. Form and Structure .................................................................................................... 59 Unit VIII. Suggested Listening ................................................................................................. 59 Unit IX. Seating Chart and Acoustical Justification ................................................................. 60 CHAPTER 7 - Rough Riders ........................................................................................................ 61 Unit I. Karl King ....................................................................................................................... 61 Unit II. Composition ................................................................................................................. 64 Unit III. Historical Perspective ................................................................................................. 65 Unit IV. Technical Considerations ........................................................................................... 67 Unit V. Stylistic Considerations ............................................................................................... 69 Unit VI. Musical Elements ....................................................................................................... 72 Unit VII. Form and Structure .................................................................................................... 74 Unit VIII. Suggested Listening ................................................................................................. 74 Unit IX. Seating Chart and Acoustical Justification ................................................................. 75 References ..................................................................................................................................... 77 Appendix A - Lesson Plans........................................................................................................... 83 Rehearsal #1 (January 5th) ........................................................................................................ 83 Rehearsal #2 (January 7th) ........................................................................................................ 84 Rehearsal #3 (January 11th) ...................................................................................................... 87 Rehearsal #4 (January 13th) ...................................................................................................... 90 Rehearsal #5 (January 20th) ...................................................................................................... 93 Rehearsal #6 (January 22nd) ...................................................................................................... 96 Rehearsal #7 (January 26th) ...................................................................................................... 99 iv Rehearsal #8 (January 28th) .................................................................................................... 102 Rehearsal #9 (February 1st) ..................................................................................................... 104 Rehearsal #10 (Febraury 3rd) .................................................................................................. 107 Rehearsal #11 (February 5th) .................................................................................................