Rundel Video: Great Grey Giants | Media center

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An Elephantasia in Four Little Movements
They are the largest terrestrial animals in the world. More than 55 million years ago, they already populated the earth: great, grey giants.
While the elephant (in a china shop) is often attributed with clumsiness and plumpness, a closer observation of the animals shows them to be empathetic giants on silent soles:

I GENTLE
The first movement outlines the gentle and noble character of the elephant. A majestic hymn is introduced in the tenor and bass registers of the orchestra and continued in the tutti. The theme serves as a guiding theme and meanders through the entire piece like a grey trunk.

II WISE
The animals can live up to sixty years. Their high intelligence always shows the herd - that is led by the cow elephant - the right way. Instinct, patience and wisdom form the basis for a particular and strongly developed endurance, for example during a long journey through dryness and drought.

III SOCIABLE
Solidarity and compassion are considered a survival strategy of the group of sorts. A newborn, for example, is always surrounded by the older family members for protection. Likewise, the latter take care of sick or injured members of the same species, offering comfort and support. Equipped with an amazing capacity for memory, the gregarious animals also frequently return to their deceased relatives and commemorate them in an almost human way.

IV JOYFUL
The last movement shows the elephants from their playful side. With great joy and airiness, they are having fun at the waterhole.

Even if the gigantic dimensions of the animals take our breath away at first glance, we often only recognise the true wonders of nature when we take a closer look. Maybe every now and then, the big grey giants can also show us humans the way ...

Münster in May 2023 - Thiemo Kraas

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Musical comments
 

• The piece is designed in such a way that it can be played as a (complete) suite, but also in individual movements. The two interludes can be added or omitted. It is also possible to play only the second and third or the first and fourth movement in combination.
   
• Both the first and second clarinet remain below the break throughout the piece. For more experienced players, there is the possibility of playing the (higher) oboe part, for which a corresponding transposition is included in the set.
   
• The highest note in the 2nd trumpet is the pitched (sounding) G. For more experienced (high) horn players, a transposition of this part into F (and E-flat) is included in the set.
   
• The major part of the music lies in the range of the tonal material of B flat major and F major. The 2nd clarinet and 2nd trumpet make exclusive use of this tonal material; all the other parts manage with isolated alterations.
   
• The rhythmic structures of the first three movements are based exclusively on whole, half, quarter and eighth notes. Punctuation appears only in connection with half notes, and syncopated rhythms were renounced completely. They are only introduced in the fourth movement, but here they are achieved exclusively by means of superpositions.
   
• The percussion parts are all kept at a very easy level of difficulty, although slight differences have been made between the parts: the bass drum part, for example, can be played after only a few lessons, the timpani part teaches how to retune between and sometimes within the movements.

eXplora Grade 1+
eXplora Disc 22


Grade Level GB: 1-2
Grade Level USA: 1+ (easy)
Composer: Kraas, Thiemo
Genre: Concert Piece
Performance time: 00:04:22
Publisher: Rundel
Size: A4
Info: Full Score + Parts
Rundel Order Number: MVSR7118
Release Date: 2023