Band - Medium Easy - 4:11
Silvas
Digital/PDF
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These forms of life will persist to exist; this is a blessing because as I once heard, and I deem this to be very true, "Trees are the lungs of the Earth ".
LISTEN TO SILVAS
Performed By The Del Norte High School Wind Ensemble
Directed And Conducted By Dr. Jennifer Kitelinger
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Silvas
Program Note
By Brandon Johnson
"Silva" is a latin word meaning "wood" or "forest". The plural form can be used to refer to the trees of a particular region. As some know, I have lived in Southern California for my entire life up to this point. One of the reasons I have loved it so much is because of the weather and scenery. We have some of the most beautiful beaches, great mountains of Big Bear, as well as hot and sunny days. Recently, I traveled up north. After passing through the Grapevine off of the I-5, entering into "Norcal", I noticed a lot more trees; The Bay Area and beyond really felt like a different state to me. Santa Cruz through Redding have some of the most beautiful trees I have ever seen : The Redwoods. As I entered Oregon, there were even more : White Oak, Ponderosa Pine, and Red Alder, to name a few. They were great and epic, some of the best things to see while driving... 'Wait - so this is a piece about trees?' you might ask. I would emphatically say, Yes!As I made my way into Washington, the allure of the trees there fully came into fruition for me, as they seemed to increase in number.
This was in such contrast to what I see on a daily basis back in Socal, so much, that it inspired me to compose this piece. "The Silvas" is an homage to the trees I saw from mid-Norcal, through Washington. Trees are strong, as represented in the piece's opening, "With Strength" (as the first expression mark). They are full of energy and life as I show through the melody and musicality at rehearsal mark 17. These trees are also 'Delicate, Yet Stable' (rehearsal mark 46). I see the leaves as very delicate but the roots as very stable. That section is followed by a 'Tenacious' section that reminds me of how resilient trees are against harsh weather and man-made problems. These forms of life will persist to exist; this is a blessing because as I once heard, and I deem this to be very true, " Trees are the lungs of the Earth ".
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Publisher BMJ Music Publishing Co., LLC
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Instrumentation Flute 1 & 2
Oboe
Bass Clarinet
Bassoon
Eb Alto Sax
Bb Tenor Sax
Eb Bari Sax
Bb Trumpet 1
Bb Trumpet 2 & 3
F Horn 1 & 2
Trombone 1 & 2
Euph.
Tuba
String Bass
Perc. 1 - Glockenspiel, Slapstick, Triangle, Crash Cyms.
Perc. 2 - 4 Timpani, Sus., Splash Cym.
Perc. 3 - Sus. Cym., Hi-Hat, Tam-tam, Mark Tree
Perc. 4 - Snare, Ride Cym.
Perc. 5 - Bass Drum
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Year Completed 2021
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Opus 12