ORCHESTRA

NOTE FROM COMPOSER

Wrath of the Gods, has had a long history from its initial sketch to its current form.  The primary theme, which is a driving and metronomic 6/8 & 4/4 figure, was originally sketched and scored within a two-hands piano work that was written and premiered when I was an undergraduate composition major.  The piano work was large in scope and had little future for any additional performances outside of its premier.  Like a lot of composers in this situation, I took certain melodies and motives from that original piano piece and reworked them into a sketch for string orchestra that was designed for my middle school aged string ensemble.  The goal at the time was to offer some interesting parts and rhythmic motives for each section of the string ensemble as well as offering my young students an energetic string piece that I felt they would have fun learning and performing. 

Several years later, I had the opportunity to score that original string sketch into a full orchestra piece and further developed the ideas and motives to capture the many colors and timbres that a full orchestra could provide.  After an additional few more years had passed, I decided to take the fully developed full orchestra score and again rearrange it for string orchestra which is presented in this publication. 

As a string educator, I’ve always enjoyed teaching this piece. It presents an opportunity for students to focus on a large-scale work, but one that utilizes and maintains grade 3 to 3 ½ technical requirements.  It’s been a valuable piece within our library that has helped bridge the gap between playing three- and four-minute works to performing literature that is within the seven-to-eight-minute time range.  As our students move through our program and begin to perform more standard orchestral repertoire, this piece has provided our students a steppingstone to performing the standard works that fall within and eclipse the 10- and 15-minute time range.  The intense energy, driving rhythms, and thematic material have always captured and maintained the focus of my students and I’m excited to present this publication in hopes that students from other programs can benefit and enjoy the many opportunities this piece has offered our students.