Reviewer: Krista M.

Reeder

REPERTOIRE EVALUATION FORM

Title: Celtic Ritual

Composer / Arranger: John Higgins

Publisher: Hal Leonard

Date of Publication: 1997

Price: $60 Band Set & Score; $7.50 Extra Score

Ensemble Type: Full Concert Band

Description/Genre: Overture - Celtic motives

Duration: 4:40

Difculty: V. Easy ! Easy ! Mod. ! Diff. ! V. Diff. !

Score: Full Score ! Reduced Score ! / Transposed ! C-Score !

Instrumentation:
Picc ! Fl1 ! Fl2 ! Fl3 ! Alto Fl ! Bass Fl !
Ob1 ! Ob2 ! EHn ! Bsn1 ! Bsn2 ! CBsn !
EbCl! Cl1 ! Cl2 ! Cl 3 ! Alto Cl ! Bass Cl !
EbAltoCl ! CBCl ! SSax! ASax1 ! ASax2 ! TSax !
BarSax ! BassSax !

Cor1 ! Cor2 ! Cor3 ! Trp1 ! Trp2 ! Trp3 !
Hn1 ! Hn2 ! Hn3 ! Hn4 ! Flg1 ! Flg2 !
Tbn1 ! Tbn2 ! Tbn3 ! BTbn ! BarTC ! BarBC !
Euph1 ! Euph2 ! Tuba1 ! Tuba2 ! StBass !

Harp ! Celeste! Glock. ! Xylo ! Mar. ! OR Vibes !
Piano ! Synth ! Chimes ! Crotales ! Timp ! Bass Dr. !
Snare ! Toms ! CrCym ! SusCym ! Tam ! Tri. !
Gong ! Maracas ! WindChimes !


Unusual Instrumentation/Usage:

Other Considerations:
Highest Pitch Trumpet: B5 Highest Pitch Clarinet: D6

Clarinet Crosses Break?: Yes ! No ! N/A !

Other Range Concerns: Flutes/Picc spend a lot of time on E6(natural) which is a
horrible note for intonation.

Technical Concerns: Proper accents and emphasis in 5/4
2/2 time m85 to end can be difcult for toms to get started
Length of notes & entrances in open section
Very exposed & thinly orchestrated ute & sax solo with
horns and clarinets

Articulations/Bowings: Matching articulation to style can be tricky because the
piece samples so many different motives of Celtic music

Meter(s): 4/4 5/4 3/4 Cut (2/2)

Rhythmic Complexities: Syncopated and off-beat playing

Key(s): Dm Em (functioning as a v/i) Am Dm Am

Harmonic Concerns: Tuning & intonation in Am
Balance - esp. as themes layer in from 89-end

Primary Texture(s): Homophonic, monodic, polyphonic
Dramatic!
Melancholic - angry - dark - sad - noble - aggressive
Thinly & thickly orchestrated

Featured Instrument(s)/Solo(s):Flute solo
Alto sax solo
Auxiliary percussion
Brass

Compositional Techniques: Mythology & historical perspective (imagery)
Layering of themes
Motifs

Form: Through-composed

Program Notes:
Celtic Ritual reects the unique composite of sadness and humor in the Celtic culture, forged by a thousand years
of ghting for freedom. It was inspired by the dark beauty of Celtic mythology, which at its core concerns a
legendary race of superhuman warriors, now hidden behind the misty space of the centuries. Also gifted in music,
dance, and poetry, the warriors are emblematic of the strange mixture of mystery and power in Celtic literature and
arts. (Word-for-word from the front cover.)

Similar Pieces (Title/Composer):
Highland Legend - John Moss

Additional Comments:

What is at the heart of this piece? 1000 years of ghting for freedom

I would play this piece with: Advanced Junior High and/or High School

I would recommend this piece: Yes ! No !