
Concert Band | Mixed Ensemble (Woodwinds/Brass)
Clockwork
Info
Many composers were inspired by the clock to write wonderful pieces, e.g. Joseph Haydn whose Symphony No. 101 is also called “The Clock”. Adding the melody of the most famous clock in the world, “Big Ben” in London, you have a lot of musical material for a piece about the clock.
Introduction
The Wood Blocks beat the seconds and the Big Ben motive rings from the carillon that sounds a little blurry, like big bells in a clock tower. The theme reminds of the music of Joseph Haydn and all notes are supposed to be played very short (staccato) to make in sound exciting.
Variation 1
The clock beats three o’clock respectively three beats per bar, which creates a waltz. Listen to the chimes, as Big Ben hides somewhere in their melody.
Variation 2
At midnight it should be quiet because most people sleep at that time. This variation stands in minor and sounds all mysterious and melancholic. Listen closely to the chimes, do they beat twelve times at the ending of this part?
Variation 3
Composer Joseph Haydn was so angry with the noble people at court, who often fell asleep during concerts of the court orchestra, that he added a loud beat of a kettledrum to wake them all up. In “Clockwork Fantasy” you can also find such a beat. A handy hint for the musicians: The more piano you play before the beat the louder and bigger it appears to the audience.
Finale
“Beat your time”” means “Don’t waste time!” but the word “beat” also stands for the rhythmic beating of a drum. And at the end of “Clockwork Fantasy” we can hear Big Ben again.
Flexible trio with percussions/keyboard (opt.) | Grade 1,5
Instrumentation:
Conductor (Full Score)
Part 1 C (8va) (Flute, Oboe)
Part 1 C (Trumpet)
Part 1 Bb (Trumpet, Cornet, Flugelhorn, Clarinet)
Part 1 Bb (8va) (Clarinet Solo, Soprano Saxophone) (optional)
Part 1 Eb (Alto Saxophone)
Part 2 C (8va) (Oboe, Flute)
Part 2 Bb (Clarinet) (optional)
Part 2 Eb (Alto Saxophone, Horn)
Part 2 F (Horn)
Part 2 Bb (8va) (Tenor Saxophone, Tenorhorn, Euphonium)
Part 2 C (Trombone, Euphonium, Bassoon)
Part 3 C (Trombone, Euphonium, Bassoon, Tuba 1)
Part 3 Bb (8va) (Trombone, Baritone, Bass Clarinet)
Part 3 C (8vb) (Tuba 2)
Part 3 Eb (Baritone Saxophone, Tuba)
Mallets (Glockenspiel, Bells)
Timpani
Percussion (Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Hi-Hat, Toms, Cymbals, Woodblocks)
Keyboard (Piano, Organ)

See also
VARIO 3-4-5 (free/gratis)
MVSR072-2
Young Concert Collection, Happy People, Prater Waltz, Little Drummerman, Fun Train, Nordic Suite, Chrissy Variations, Clockwork, The Old Fortress, Paperhat Collection, Cat Walk, Sugar Stomp, Song for the Memory, Five Continents, Tijuana ...
Cat Walk / Sugar Stomp
MVSR4016
This double edition contains the two Vario 3 compositions "Cat Walk" and "Sugar Stomp" by Luigi di Ghisallo
Cat Walk
“Cat Walk” might describe a cat walking. But it ...
Chrissy Variations
MVSR4012
Chrissy is Kees Vlak’s granddaughter. He composed his piece “Chrissy Variations” for her, drafting a musical picture of the relationship between he and his grandchild.
After a four measure prelude the Chrissy theme is ...
Fun Train / Little Drummerman
MVSR4007
This double edition contains the two Vario 3 compositions "Fun Train" and "Little Drummerman" by Luigi di Ghisallo.
Fun Train
Tsch, Tsch, Tschk, Tschk-Tschk, ...
Happy People / Prater Waltz
MVSR4009
This double edition contains the two Vario 3 compositions "Happy People" and "Prater Waltz" by Alfred Bösendorfer.
Happy People
Band music originates in military music. ...
Nordic Suite
MVSR4011
A musical suite consists of several pieces that all relate to a certain topic, in case of the “Nordic Suite” that is Scandinavia and its countries.
1. Swedish March
Sweden is depicted by a march. When you stay for a ...
Paperhat Collection
MVSR4015
This collection consists of five variations on the Dutch song “One, two, three four hats from paper” (“hoedje von papier”). It’s a song that tells people not to take everything so seriously.
1. Paperhat ...
The Old Fortress
MVSR4014
Traveling to Southern France, on the highway to Lyon – l’aoutoroute du soleil – you pass a fortress that dates from the 11th century. It lies high and invulnerable on a rock and is called “La Fortresse Mornas”. ...
Young Concert Collection
MVSR4006
“Young Concert Collection”, which would be also suitably titled as “Our first concert”, consists of five small pieces.
1. Fanfare
The opening part contains only four different notes. The different ...