Christopher Tucker: Music Gallery

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"Winds of Enchantment is my second youth wind symphony work, although the material was conceived two years before as a single movement created as an experiment in musical color and line. I have taken the three main ideas and composed separate movements. Since no programmatic element was conceived when composing Winds of Enchantment, I have employed general movement titles to describe each setting. Prelude is based on the opening call in the brass. The movement is bold and noble. Descending woodwind figures foreshadow material in the third movement. The coda incorporates the opening call for a climatic finish. Song is subtitled "Mary's Song". The movement is lyrical involving moving lines and colorful consorts. The theme is presented in its entirety first by the clarinets. The music gives way to a woodwind choir. Solos follow with an expressive drive adding more instruments to a climax with the full ensemble. Beautiful harmonies and counterpoint move the music along to a second climax, this time in the brass. The ending is reminiscent of the opening pitches of the first movement. March is a jagged, rhythmic romp. Consisting of elements from the previous movements as well as new material, the March is Persian-in-style with pompous bass lines, descending woodwind figures, a middle lyrical section representing a trio section, rhythmic jabs in the brass, and percussion including tambourine, tom-toms, and sleigh bells. The work is dedicated to my good friend, Mary Schneider. Without her support, Winds of Enchantment would never have been realized."

Winds of Enchantment was commissioned by the Benjamin Franklin Middle School Bands (Ridgewood, NJ), director Mary Schneider.