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Adaptable music for Wind Band and Orchestra

Adaptable:  The Bonsai Tree

Grade 2       by Julie Giroux
Original composed for the Scott County High School Symphonic WindsGeorgetown, Kentucky - Tom Brawner, Director

Sandai-Shogun no Matsu, a five-needle pine bonsai (Pinus pentaphylla var. negishi) is considered one of Japan's national treasures. The tree is at least 500 years old and is considered to be one of the oldest known living bonsai trees. It is documented as having been cared for by Tokugawa Iemitsu (August 12, 1604 - June 8, 1651) who was the third shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty. Sandai-Shogun no Matsu is housed in the Tokyo Imperial Palace. "Although the center of this famous tree's trunk is now totally hollow, it has been carefully nurtured for generations, and gazing at its gnarled form today, a sense of awe is felt at the forceful destiny that has allowed such a small piece of life to survive for so many centuries."

Instrumentation
PART 1
1 - 1-Flute
1 - 1-Oboe
1 - 1-B♭ Clarinet
PART 2
1 - 2-Oboe
1 - 2-B♭ Clarinet/B♭ Trumpet
1 - 2-E♭ Alto Saxophone
PART 3
1 - 3-B♭ Clarinet/B♭ Trumpet
1 - 3-E♭ Alto Saxophone
1 - 3-B♭ Tenor Saxophone
1 - 3-F Horn
PART 4
1 - 4-E♭ Alto Saxophone
1 - 4-B♭ Tenor Saxophone/
     Euphonium T.C.
1 - 4-F Horn
1 - 4-Bassoon/Trombone/
     Euphonium B.C.
PART 5
1 - 5-E♭ Baritone Saxophone
1 - 5-Bassoon/Tuba
Percussion
2 - Orchestra Bells,

Suspended Cymbal
1 - Vibraphone

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Adaptable: Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah!

Grade 3
arranged by Julie Giroux

This celebration of the Festival of Lights combines the traditional

"Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah" with "I Have a Little Dreidel" in an adaptable band.

Instrumentation
PART 1
1 - 1-Flute/Oboe
1 - 1-B♭ Clarinet/B♭ Trumpet
1 - 1-B♭ Soprano Saxophone
1 - 1-E♭ Alto Saxophone
PART 2
1 - 2-B♭ Clarinet/B♭ Trumpet
1 - 2-E♭ Alto Saxophone
1 - 2-F Horn
PART 3
1 - 3-B♭ Clarinet/B♭ Trumpet
1 - 3-E♭ Alto Saxophone
1 - 3-B♭ Tenor Saxophone
1 - 3-F Horn
PART 4
1 - 4-E♭ Alto Saxophone
1 - 4-B♭ Bass Clarinet/B♭ Tenor
     Saxophone/Euphonium T.C.
1 - 4-F Horn
1 - 4-Bassoon/Trombone/
     Euphonium B.C.
PART 5
1 - 5-B♭ Bass Clarinet/B♭ Tenor
     Saxophone/Euphonium T.C.
1 - 5-E♭ Baritone Saxophone
1 - 5-Trombone/Euphonium B.C.
1 - 5-Bassoon/Tuba
1 - 5-Contrabassoon/String Bass
Keyboard & Percussion
1 - Piano
2 - Orchestra Bells, Xylophone
1 - Marimba
1 - Tambourine
1 - Timpani (Optional)

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Adaptable:  I'll Be Home A'fore Ye

A Scottish Farewell
Grade 2 by Julie Giroux

I'll Be Home A'fore Ye, A Scottish Farewell, uses snare drum to complement a drone effect in other instruments. A medium tempo in three, this piece has a nice variety of colors for band. The bells part is prevalent in the piece.

Instrumentation
PART 1
1 - 1-Flute
1 - 1-B♭ Clarinet
1 - 1-B♭ Soprano Saxophone
PART 2
1 - 2-Flute/Oboe
1 - 2-B♭ Clarinet/B♭ Trumpet
PART 3
1 - 3-B♭ Clarinet/B♭ Trumpet
1 - 3-E♭ Alto Saxophone
PART 4
1 - 4-B♭ Clarinet/B♭ Trumpet
1 - 4-E♭ Alto Saxophone
1 - 4-F Horn
PART 5
1 - 5-B♭ Tenor Saxophone/
     Euphonium T.C.
1 - 5-E♭ Baritone Saxophone
1 - 5-F Horn
1 - 5-Trombone/Euphonium B.C.
PART 6
1 - 6-B♭ Bass Clarinet
1 - 6-E♭ Baritone Saxophone
1 - 6-Bassoon/Tuba
1 - 6-Contrabassoon/String Bass
Percussion
1 - Timpani
2 - Orchestra Bells, Chimes
2 - Percussion

(Snare Drum, Bass Drum)

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Adaptable:  Nihonbashi - "Market Bridge"
mvt. 2 from Bookmarks from Japan

Grade 4 by Julie Giroux

Based on the bookmark “Nihonbashi” by Hiroshige Ando from the print series “The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Highway.”

PROGRAM NOTES

Hiroshige Ando (1797-1858) traveled the Tokaido from Edo to Kyoto in 1832. The official party he was traveling with were transporting horses which were gifts to be offered to the imperial court. The journey greatly inspired Hiroshige for he sketched many of its scenes during his round trip travels. In all, Hiroshige produced 55 prints for the series “The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Highway.” Fifty-three of the prints represent each of the 53 post stations along the way. The two additional prints are of the starting and ending points. The post stations offered food, lodging and stables for travelers of the Tokaido Highway. This is Hiroshige’s “Leaving Edo : Nihonbashi”, “the bridge of Japan” and is number 1/55 in the series of prints.
The Nihonbashi bridge was the central point of development of what is now a business district of Chuo, Tokyo, Japan, aptly named the Nihonbashi District. For centuries it thrived as a mercantile district. The first department store ever developed in Japan was by the Mitsui family named Mitsukoshi. From its early days as a fish market to the current financial district of Tokyo (and Japan), this bridge spanning the Nihonbashi River is a true landmark in Tokyo. In fact, highway signs that state the distance to Tokyo actually state the distance to the Nihonbashi bridge.
Up until shortly before 1964, you could see Mount Fuji from the bridge. However, the 1964 Summer Olympics put in a raised expressway over the Nihonbashi bridge, obscuring the view of Mount Fuji entirely. Petitions to relocate the expressway underground in order to regain view of Mount Fuji are continuous but so far have been futile due to the costs for such a project.

Instrumentation
PART 1
1 - 1-Flute
1 - 1-E♭ Clarinet
1 - 1-B♭ Soprano Saxophone
PART 2
1 - 2-Flute/Oboe
1 - 2-B♭ Clarinet
PART 3
1 - 3-B♭ Clarinet
1 - 3-E♭ Alto Saxophone
PART 4
1 - 4-B♭ Clarinet/B♭ Trumpet
1 - 4-E♭ Alto Saxophone
PART 5
1 - 5-B♭ Clarinet
1 - 5-E♭ Alto Saxophone
1 - 5-B♭ Tenor Saxophone
1 - 5-F Horn
PART 6
1 - 6-B♭ Bass Clarinet/B♭ Tenor
     Saxophone/Euphonium T.C.
1 - 6-E♭ Baritone Saxophone
1 - 6-Bassoon/Trombone/
     Euphonium B.C.
PART 7
1 - 7-B♭ Bass Clarinet
1 - 7-Bassoon
1 - 7-E♭ Baritone Saxophone
PART 8
1 - 8-B♭ Bass Clarinet
1 - 8-E♭ Baritone Saxophone
1 - 8-Bassoon/Tuba
1 - 8-Contrabassoon/String Bass
Percussion
1 - Xylophone
1 - Marimba
2 - Percussion (Temple Blocks, Snare Drum)

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Adaptable 5 plus 2 percussion

One Life Beautiful

Grade 4       by Julie Giroux

     "One Life Beautiful" - The title itself is a double-entendre which in one sense is referring to the person this work is dedicated to as in "one life" that was beautifully lived. The other sense is a direct observation concluding that having only one life is what makes life so sacred, tragic and so very precious. This is an impressionistic work musically describing that condition. Shakespeare's "sweet sorrow," the frailty and strength of life, the meaning of what it is to truly live One Life Beautiful.

J.G.

Instrumentation
PART 1
1 - 1-Flute
1 - 1-E♭ Clarinet
PART 2
1 - 2-Flute
1 - 2-Oboe
1 - 2-B♭ Clarinet
PART 3
1 - 3-B♭ Clarinet/B♭ Trumpet
1 - 3-E♭ Alto Saxophone
PART 4
1 - 4-B♭ Clarinet/B♭ Trumpet
1 - 4-E♭ Alto Saxophone
PART 5
1 - 5-B♭ Clarinet/B♭ Trumpet
1 - 5-B♭ Tenor Saxophone
1 - 5-F Horn
1 - 5-Trombone/Euphonium B.C.
1 - 5-Euphonium T.C.
PART 6
1 - 6-B♭ Tenor Saxophone
1 - 6-F Horn
1 - 6-Bassoon/Trombone/
     Euphonium B.C.
1 - 6-Euphonium T.C.
PART 7
1 - 7-B♭ Bass Clarinet
1 - 7-E♭ Baritone Saxophone
1 - 7-Trombone/Euphonium B.C.
1 - 7-Euphonium T.C.
PART 8
1 - 8-B♭ Bass Clarinet
1 - 8-E♭ Baritone Saxophone
1 - 8-Bassoon
PART 9
1 - 9-B♭ Bass Clarinet
1 - 9-Bassoon/Bass Trombone
1 - 9-String Bass/Contrabassoon/
     Tuba
Percussion
1 - Timpani
2 - Percussion 1 (Orchestra Bells,
     Xylophone)
2 - Percussion 2 (Vibraphone,
     Tambourine)
1 - Percussion 3 (Snare Drum)

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Adaptable:  Opa!

Grade 4  by Julie Giroux
Commissioned by the North Hills High School Bands, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Len Lavelle, Director, in memory of Areta Kalogeras who was the North Hills Band Director from 1975 through 2008.

This work opens with an original Greek prayer setting and ends with a lively dance based on the Greek song "Karaguna." It starts out somber and dissonant with musical counterpoint full of many tension and release moments. The listener is then transported to a dance setting which start outs slowly featuring a lengthy alto saxophone solo. The music gradually increases in excitement and tempo ending in a frenetic explosion best described as a love of life the people of Greece continuously display in their food, reveling and music.

Instrumentation
PART 1
1 - 1-Flute
1 - 1-E♭ Clarinet
PART 2
1 - 2-Flute
1 - 2-Oboe
1 - 2-B♭ Clarinet
PART 3
1 - 3-B♭ Clarinet/B♭ Trumpet
1 - 3-E♭ Alto Saxophone
PART 4
1 - 4-B♭ Clarinet/B♭ Trumpet
1 - 4-E♭ Alto Saxophone
PART 5
1 - 5-B♭ Clarinet/B♭ Trumpet
1 - 5-B♭ Tenor Saxophone
1 - 5-F Horn
1 - 5-Trombone/Euphonium B.C.
1 - 5-Euphonium T.C.
PART 6
1 - 6-B♭ Tenor Saxophone
1 - 6-F Horn
1 - 6-Bassoon/Trombone/
     Euphonium B.C.
1 - 6-Euphonium T.C.
PART 7
1 - 7-B♭ Bass Clarinet
1 - 7-E♭ Baritone Saxophone
1 - 7-Trombone/Euphonium B.C.
1 - 7-Euphonium T.C.
PART 8
1 - 8-B♭ Bass Clarinet
1 - 8-E♭ Baritone Saxophone
1 - 8-Bassoon
PART 9
1 - 9-B♭ Bass Clarinet
1 - 9-Bassoon/Bass Trombone
1 - 9-String Bass/Contrabassoon/
     Tuba
Percussion
1 - Timpani
2 - Percussion 1 (Orchestra Bells,
     Xylophone)
2 - Percussion 2 (Vibraphone,
     Tambourine)
1 - Percussion 3 (Snare Drum)

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Adaptable:  Our Cast Aways

Grade 3    by Julie Giroux

 

Commissioned by the Bednarcik, Plank, Murphy,
Thompson and Traughber Junior High School Bands of School District #308,
Oswego, Illinois, Rachel Maxwell, Coordinator

for Those who rescue, Those who get rescued, and especially for Those whose rescue never comes.

    This work is dedicated to all those who work hard in the fight to end puppy mills, to rescue suffering pets and to provide care and medical attention to all those rescued. It is dedicated to those companions who get rescued and for those whose rescue never comes.     - J.G.

Instrumentation

PART 1
1 - 1-Flute/Oboe
1 - 1-E♭ Clarinet
1 - 1-B♭ Clarinet/
    B♭ Soprano Saxophone
PART 2
1 - 2-Flute/Oboe
1 - 2-B♭ Clarinet/B♭ Trumpet
PART 3
1 - 3-B♭ Clarinet/B♭ Trumpet
1 - 3-E♭ Alto Saxophone
1 - 3-F Horn
PART 4
1 - 4-B♭ Clarinet/B♭ Trumpet
1 - 4-E♭ Alto Saxophone
1 - 4-F Horn
PART 5
1 - 5-B♭ Bass Clarinet/B♭ Tenor
    Saxophone/Euphonium T.C.
1 - 5-Bassoon/Trombone/
nbsp;    Euphonium B.C.
PART 6
1 - 6-B♭ Bass Clarinet/B♭ Tenor
    Saxophone/Euphonium T.C.
1 - 6-E♭ Baritone Saxophone
1 - 6-Bassoon/Trombone/
nbsp;    Euphonium B.C.
PART 7
1 - 7-B♭ Bass Clarinet
1 - 7-E♭ Baritone Saxophone
1 - 7-Contrabassoon/String Bass
1 - 7-Bassoon/Tuba
Percussion
1 - Orchestra Bells
1 - Vibraphone
1 - Marimba

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Adaptable :   A Time to Dance

Grade 3    by Julie Giroux

An absolute delight. An uplifting pulse with some mixed meter, form the structure for this dance-like piece. This piece has an infectious feel to it; great for teaching and for listening.

​Instrumentation

PART 1
1 - 1-Flute
1 - 1-E♭ Clarinet
1 - 1-B♭ Soprano Saxophone
PART 2
1 - 2-Flute
1 - 2-Oboe
1 - 2-B♭ Clarinet
1 - 2-B♭ Trumpet
PART 3
1 - 3-B♭ Clarinet
1 - 3-B♭ Trumpet
1 - 3-E♭ Alto Saxophone
PART 4
1 - 4-B♭ Clarinet
1 - 4-E♭ Alto Saxophone
1 - 4-B♭ Trumpet
1 - 4-F Horn
PART 5
1 - 5-B♭ Tenor Saxophone
1 - 5-F Horn
1 - 5-Trombone/Euphonium B.C.
1 - 5-Euphonium T.C.
PART 6
1 - 6-B♭ Bass Clarinet
1 - 6-Bassoon
1 - 6-Trombone/Euphonium B.C.
1 - 6-Euphonium T.C.
PART 7
1 - 7-B♭ Bass Clarinet
1 - 7-E♭ Baritone Saxophone
1 - 7-String Bass/Contrabassoon/
    Bassoon/Tuba
Percussion
1 - Timpani
2 - Percussion 1 (Chimes, Orchestra Bells,
    Marimba)
2 - Percussion 2 (Crash Cymbals, Triangle,
    Vibraphone, Maracas)

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©2022 by Julie Giroux.

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