SECOND PRIZE WINNER OF THE
2018 COLUMBIA SUMMER WINDS OUTDOOR COMPOSITION CONTEST

INSTRUMENTATION - 2fl, 2ob, 2cl, 2bsn, 2asax, tsax, bsax, 2hn, 2tpt, 2tbn, euph [T.C. and B.C. parts included], tuba, timp, 5perc
  [8 perc. players in total are recommended]
​
DURATION - ca. 4 minutes
WORLD PREMIERE - April 26, 2017; Wharton Center for Performing Arts, Michigan State University; MSU Campus Band - Connor Fetting, conductor
DIFFICULTY: Grade 3.5
$50 for full set. $30 for 11x17 study score.
9x12 score/full set options also available for discounted prices.
One of Michigan's most popular tourist attractions can be found at the beautiful, luxurious area of Mackinac Island. Attracting thousands of people every summer, the natural wonders of this place and its hidden spectacles are a sight to behold, offering something new to everyone who travels there. The Straits of Mackinac is such a musical venture, evoking the journey to the island via ferry with the rich and vibrant colors of the concert band as its palette.

The first theme for this trip conjures up a sweeping palette of colors and sounds full of spirit, adventure, and wistfulness. Matched by a second theme characterized with even more yearning, the excitement and energy begins to grow as the ferry draws nearer to the island. Harmonic tension is matched with rhythmic excitement and layered textures of melodic fragments, contrapuntal statements, and percussive action. All of this builds to an exciting conclusion and the promise of a great adventure at Mackinac when the ferry finally arrives to its stop.

My sincerest thanks to Connor Fetting and the MSU Campus Band for a fantastic premiere performance.

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M.O.T.I.F. strives to create music which pushes the limits of what it can do. Using experimentation balanced with traditional approaches, this music dares to explore uncharted territory to create a new experience out of the principles that have shaped its evolution over the centuries. Its focus is for performance by all musicians - those who are just beginning their musical life, to those at the professional height of their musicality. Inspired by a multitude of genres and other stylistic influences, M.O.T.I.F. embarks on a new frontier with these ideas and hopes to inspire the next generation of musicians, listeners, concertgoers, and audiences everywhere.