"It Might As Well Be Spring"

FULL INSTRUMENTATION

• Piccolo, Flute 1-2, Oboe 1-2, Bassoon 1-2, Eb Clarinet, Bb Clarinet 1-2-3, Bass Clarinet;
• Alto Saxophone 1-2, Tenor Saxophone 1-2, Baritone Saxophone;
• French Horn 1-2-3-4, Trumpet 1-2-3-4, Trombone 1-2-3-4, Baritone 1-2-3, Tuba (Eb and Bb Bass);
• Guitar, Keyboard, Bass Guitar, Drums;
• Timpani, Percussion (2-3 players: bar chimes, claves, shaker, bass drum, congas, maracas, guiro, timbales);
• Mallets (xylophone, marimba, vibraphone).

NOTES FOR THE PERFORMER

`It might as well be spring', the second song from the Seasonal Songs cycle, presents the impressions of spring. After a subdued introduction, using snippets from the original melody as birdsong, winking an eye at Beethoven's Pastorale and Ravel's Daphnis and Chloé, nature starts blooming in m. 17. Spring time feelings are expressed through the latin (mambo) rhythms, exuberant tropical tone colours and sudden key changes. The middle section, from m. 103 is a brief solo for timbales, the second bridge section in m. 147 refers to Wagner's Siegfried. For the rhythm section, and in particular the latin percussion group it is quite a challenge to make a balanced contribution to this passionate arrangement.

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