Letter from Sado is an exciting piece for young band designed to draw out the musicality in young players. With a focus on interpretation of an ancient haiku poem with natural imagery, performers are invited to become decision makers about specific sections in the music. Their decisions include ideas regarding tempo, dynamics and articulation in order to represent a “wild stormy sea” and a “still starry night.” Free interdisciplinary curriculum for teaching Sado is available at BandQuest.org. Dur: 5-7 minutes
Recorded by the University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble – Craig Kirchhoff, conductor
BandQuest®, an exciting series of new music and accompanying curricula for band, is a program published by the American Composers Forum. The series was started as a response to feedback from music educators that there is a pressing need for new, fresh band music. The heart of this program is new works written by a diverse group of leading American composers who have created challenging pieces that are a true departure from standard middle school repertoire. Every BandQuest project includes a residency component in which the composer works collaboratively with a middle school as they create their new piece. Many BandQuest pieces are accompanied by an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to assist students as they learn the music and to integrate each piece with non-music studies. Visit www.bandquest.org to learn more about this innovative series, and email bandquest@composersforum.org to request a free downloadable audio catalog.
