Viva Musica! - HL00007222 | Partitions

"Viva Musica!" by Alfred Reed was commissioned by VanderCook College of Music and is 'dedicated to all who strive for excellence in the noble field of music education.' The first performance took place in Chicago, at the annual Mid-West National Band and Orchestra Clinic, on December 16th, 1983, with the VanderCook College Symphonic Concert Band unter the direction of the composer.

The music is in the form of a single allegro movement marked "Allegro Brillante", with an immediate statement of a single basic motive out of which the entire texture is developed. This motive is contrasted by a playful woodwind and saxophon figure that, by turns, alternates with it and, at other times, counterpoints it. There is a continuing development through different harmonizations and choice of instrumentation. This leads to the main theme of the piece - a broadly lyrical, yet always rhythmical line in 7/8 and 8/8 time, that will be seen and (hopefully) felt by the listener to be yet another development of the original motive.

The combination of these three elements: the basic, fanfare-like motive, its playful contrasting figure, and the broad lyrical line with its unusual rhythmic basic, make up the remainder of the music, ending with a final, joyous outburst of the basic motive in a lustrous and affirmative conclusion.

The composer has noted that while there have been many testimonials to the joy of making music in the past, and certainly to the joy of hearing it, there have not been quite so many, or so widely heralded, to the joy of teaching it. This work, commissioned by one of the most successful schools in the field of music education, is an attempt to express just this joy of musical communion between teachers and students.