Update Title: 8DFFA69F-9C69-4325-94E4-FBF952A561DD

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Soundings is a four-movement work for band of approximately fifteen minutes' duration.  It was commissioned in 1995 by the Big Eight Band Directors Association whose affiliates include the University of Colorado, Iowa State University, the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, the University of Missouri, the University of Nebraska, the University of Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State University.

The title, soundings, has been used by several composers and authors, most recently by Glen Watkins for his book about music in the twentieth century.  I chose the title quite literally for its "sound", but also because its relatively abstract definition -- "the making or giving forth of sounds" -- complements the more descriptive titles of the individual movements:  "Fanfare", "Gizmo", "Waves", and "Transmission".

Each of the four movements explores different musical territory.  "Fanfare" employs familiar musical materials such as quartal harmony and imitative counterpoint, but departs from traditional fanfares in its use of woodwind as well as brass instruments.  "Gizmo" reflects my fascination with gadgets, motoric rhythms, and the sound of major sevenths. "Waves" was born out of my experience in the computer music studio and my preference for sounds whose shapes slowly expand and contract.  In "Waves", four musical layers are presented:  (1) a steady tremolo in the percussion serves to anchor as well as animate the music; (2) waves of sound through the lower brass and woodwinds are supported by timpani and tamtam;  (3) scattered, freely-moving solos in the upper winds are complemented by;  (4) a repeated melody played by trumpets, oboe, flute, and piccolo.  "Transmission is not unlike "Gizmo" in its reliance upon a quickly-moving, steady pulse and sonorities employing major sevenths.  The title, "Transmission", was chosen for its double meaning:  (1) information from a transmitter and (2) an assembly of gears and associated parts by which power is transmitted from the engine to the gearbox.  In "Transmission" I have "transmitted" musical information using "metric or temporal modulation", a process analogous to that executed by the driver of an automobile smoothly shifting gears to change engine speed.

Cindy McTee

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Premier Performance Memo

-Northern Illinois/ Dr. Ronnie Wooten. 28 Oct 2004.
-SCU Stanislaus Wind Ensemble/ Stuart Sims. 4 Dec 03.
-University of Wisconsin/ James Smith. 24 Apr 03.
-Peabody Conservatory/ Harlan Parker. 09 Apr 03.
-Sinsen Musikkorps/ Rune Bergmann. 05 Apr 03.
-Univ of Texas at Austin/ Rob Carnochan. 26 Mar 03.
-New England College Band Association/ Allan McMurray. 08 Mar 03.
-Vanderbilt University/ Thomas Verrier. 22 Feb 03.
-Lopez High School (Brownsville, TX)/ Adam Kramer. 13 Feb 03 (mvts 3 & 4).

-Sam Houston State University Wind Ensemble/ Matthew McInturf. 06 Apr 02.
-Ohio Northern University/ Charles Bates. 07 Feb 02.

-UConn Wind Ensemble/ Jeffrey Renshaw. 04 Oct 01.
-University of Colorado at Boulder/ Allan McMurray. 20 Apr 01.
-Emory University. 17 Mar 01; 20 Apr 01.
-Florida State University. 12 Nov 00; 12 Jan 01.

-Rhode Island College/ Robert Franzblau. 17 Nov 00.
-Norhtwestern University/ Mallory Thompson. 10 Mar 00.
-McLean High School/ James Kirchenbauer. 4 Mar 00.

-East Carolina Symphonic Wind Ensemble. 10 Oct 99.
-Central Michigan University/ John Wlliamson. 21 Oct 99.
-Baylor University Symphonic Band/ Courtney Snyder. 26 Apr 99.
-Cameron University Symphonic Band/ Glen Gillis. 4 Mar 99; 27 Apr 99.
-DePaul University Wind Ensemble/ Donald DeRoche. 30 Jan 99.
-Southwest Missouri State Wind Ensemble/ Belva Prather. 28 Jan 99. Transmission only.

-Northern Illinois University Wind Ensemble/ Ronnie Wooten. 23 Nov 98.
-Interlochen Arts Camp/ John Whitwell. 09 Aug 98.
-Morgan State University/ Melvin Miles. 26 Apr 98.
-Harrison High School/ Scott Weiss. 14, 21 Mar 98. National Concert Band Festival.
-CBDNA Western Division Conference/ Allan McMurray. 14 Mar 98.
-UCLA Wind Ensemble/ Thomas Lee. 11 Mar 98.
-University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire/ Todd Fiegel. 08 Mar 98.
-University of Georgia/ John Culvahouse. 03 Mar 98.
-Central Michigan University/ John E Williamson. 27 Feb 98.
-University of Tennessee/ Gary Sousa. 20 Feb 98.

-New World School of the Arts Wind Ensemble/ Roby G George, Jr. 02, 19 Nov 97.
-Michigan State University/ John Whitwell. 18 Oct 97.
-Emory University/ John Lynch. 17 Oct 97.
-University of Colorado-Boulder Wind Ensemble/ Allan McMurray. 14 Oct 97.
-University of Wisconsin-Madison/ James Smith. 08 Oct 97.
-Illinois State University/ Stephen Steele.  01, 02, 03 Oct 97.
-Louisiana State University/ Frank Wickes. 25 Sep 97.
-Eastman School of Music/ Andrew Poysen. 23 Sep 97.
-University of Washington/ Tim Salzman. 29 May 97.
-UI Symphonic Band/ James F. Keene. 01 May 97.
-University of North Texas/ Eugene Corporon. 20 Feb 97.
-Sam Houston State University Wind Ensemble/ Gary Sousa. 17, 18, 20 Feb 97.

-Iowa State University Wind Ensemble/ Joseph Christensen. 17 Nov 96.
-Florida State University-Tallahassee/ James Croft. 18 Oct 96.
-University of Arizona/ Gregg Hanson. 06 Oct 96.
-University of Florida-Gainsville/ David Waybright. 03 Oct 96.
-Oklahoma State University-Stillwater/ Joseph T. Missal. 03 Oct 96.
-University of Missouri-Columbia Symphonic Wind Ensemble/ Dale J. Lonis. 26 Apr 96.
-University of Nebraska-Lincoln/ Jay Kloecker. 14 Apr 96.
-University of Oklahoma Wind Symphony/ William Wakefield. 22 Feb 96; 02 Mar 96. 
-World Premiere, University of Oklahoma Wind Symphony/ William Wakefield. 04 Oct 95.

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