An Adventurer's Overture - Casey Martin

Grade 4.5
Purchase score and parts here: shorturl.at/hFIZ5
An Adventurer’s Overture began it’s life as an etude that I wrote for my beginner trumpet students in 2019 simply titled Adventure Etude. I was growing tired of assigning the same etudes every year and wanted to give them a piece to learn that was pedagogically useful (baby’s first fourth line D!) and enjoyable to play. It ended up being a hit, with some kids even pulling it out of their binder a few years later and playing it for me again for fun! I knew I had to do something more with this melody, and thus it became a band piece.
The piece begins with the exciting, driving adventurer’s theme, which is the original etude melody. After the energy dies down, a flute duet and mallet percussion brings us to a scene of whimsical magic and wonder. However, through the serenity pervades a mysterious, chant-like melody. This theme becomes increasingly ominous, as if signaling a dark and evil force. What comes next for our adventurer? You’ll just have to listen to finish the story!
The piece received its premier by the University of Wyoming Symphonic Band under the direction of Logan Dominguez and Ogechi Ukazu.

[@JohnDrawsMusic]

Wow! This is very expressive! Nice!