Project Description
Wind Ensemble
2003
3 min.
Listen Now
The St. Olaf Band, Timothy Mahr, cond.
On the album Inner Visions, The Music of David Maslanka
University of New Hampshire Wind Symphony, Andrew Boysen, cond.
On the album The Music of David Maslanka
Mother Earth, a Fanfare – Sam Ormson, cond.
Preview Score
Instrumentation
Picc Fl Ob BbCl-3 BCl Bsn ASx-2 TSx BSx | Hn Tpt-3 Tbn-3 Euph Tuba | Timp Perc-4
- Piccolo
- Flute
- Oboe
- Clarinet in B♭ (3)
- Bass Clarinet in B♭
- Bassoon
- Alto Saxophone (2)
- Tenor Saxophone
- Baritone Saxophone
- Horn in F
- Trumpet in (3)
- Trombone (3)
- Euphonium
- Tuba
- Timpani
- Required Percussion (4 players)
- Orchestra Bells (2)
- Xylophone
- Vibraphone
- Crash Cymbals
- Chimes
- Tom-toms (High, Med., Low)
- Suspended Cymbal (lg.)
- Tenor Drum
- Bass Drum
- Tam-tam
Commissioned by
South Dearborn (Indiana) High School Band, Brian Silvey, cond.
Program Note
Mother Earth was composed for the South Dearborn High School Band of Aurora, Indiana, Brian Silvey, conductor. The commission was for a three-minute fanfare piece. Each piece takes on a reason for being all its own, and Mother Earth is no exception. It became an urgent message from Our Mother to treat her more kindly! My reading at the time of writing this music was For a Future to be Possible by the Vietnamese monk and teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh. He believes that the only way forward is to be extremely alive and aware in our present moment, to become awake to the needs of our beloved planet, and to respond to it as a living entity. Music making allows us to come immediately awake. It is an instant connection to the powerful wellspring of our creativity, and opens our minds to the solution of any number of problems, including that of our damaged environment. My little piece does not solve the problem! But it is a living call to the wide-awake life, and it continues to be performed by young people around the world.
Further Reading
From the Maslanka Archive – No. 38, The Life & Influence of Thich Nhat Hanh
From the Maslanka Archive features media and stories of David's life and work. This week, we are excited to feature the podcast Wind & Rhythm and their new episode on David's music inspired by the late Buddhist Monk, Thich Nhat Hanh.
Maslanka Weekly: Best of the Web – No. 120, Mother Earth
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we showcase a traditional performance, an arrangement, and a score study session of On This Bright Morning.
Maslanka Weekly: Best of the Web – No. 105, Amazing Performances from China
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature three amazing performances from China: Alex and the Phantom Band, Tone Studies, and Mother Earth.
Maslanka Weekly: Best of the Web – No. 40, The Earth
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we examine three of David’s works that make reference to the earth: O Earth, O Stars, Symphony No. 6: Living Earth, and Mother Earth.
Maslanka Weekly: Best of the Web – No. 9, Grade 3 Music for Wind Band
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, marvelous performances of Illumination, Heart Songs, and Mother Earth.
Maslanka Experiences: Sam Ormson
Playing Symphony No. 9 with a high school band was supposed to be impossible. Sam Ormson writes about his musical development through David's music.
David Maslanka: Works for Younger Wind Ensembles
Here are more than twenty works for wind ensemble, arranged in approximate ascending order of difficulty, with commentary by David Maslanka
Recording the Wind Ensemble Music of David Maslanka
Mark Morette of Mark Custom Recording shares his extensive experience in recording wind ensembles.
