David Maslanka's Symphony No. 4: a conductor's analysis with performance considerations
Abstract
In the last two decades of the Twentieth Century, the wind band music of
David Maslanka has become well known and widely performed. A number of his
compositions are becoming increasingly recognized as new additions to the
standard wind band repertoire. The Symphony No. 4 is becoming such a work.
The purpose of this treatise is to examine David Maslanka’s Symphony
No. 4 with the goal of providing information, which will be valuable to a
conductor or performer preparing the work for performance. The composer’s
meditative approach to the compositional process is examined with specific
details concerning the source materials and inspirations pertinent to the creation
of the Symphony No. 4. The episodic nature of the Symphony is examined with an
analysis highlighting the unifying elements, which bind the various sections of the
Symphony together. Performance considerations and suggestions, derived from
interviews, discussions, and rehearsals with the composer, are presented to
provide the conductor with insights about the Symphony No. 4.
Department
Description
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