Winds of Nagual

Winds of Nagual, written in 1985, is one of North American composer Michael Colgrass's works for wind ensemble. It has become a standard of the wind ensemble/concert band repertoire. Based on the writings of Carlos Castaneda, the work consists of seven movements.

In 1985 the piece won the nl and Sudler International Composition Competition.

Structure

• Movement 1: "The Desert: Don Juan Emerges from the Mountains"

  This movement is highly evocative of the opening of Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. The opening sound of the E♭ clarinet is a possible reminder of the bassoon in the treble clef from Stravinsky's ballet.

• Movement 2: "Don Genaro Appears"

  Laughter can be heard from the clarinets in an unmistakable sound in this movement.

• Movement 3: "Carlos Stares at the River and Becomes a Bubble"
• Movement 4: "The Gait of Power"
• Movement 5: "Asking Twilight for Calmness and Power"
• Movement 6: "Don Juan Clowns for Carlos"

  Clowns from a circus or carnivale can be heard here—the clarinet and saxophone sections utilize folk music to make sound that could remind the listener of a memory of painted-up performers.

• Movement 7: "Last Conversation and Farewell"

  A similar sounding feel to the "Great Gate of Kiev" from Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky

Instrumentation

• Flute I–III (all double piccolo, two double alto flute)
• E♭ soprano clarinet
• B♭ soprano clarinet I–VI
• B♭ bass clarinet
• E♭ contra-alto clarinet
• B♭ contrabass clarinet
• Contrabassoon
• Soprano saxophone
• Alto saxophone
• Trumpet I–VI (V–VI double cornet)
• Flugelhorn
• Horn in F I–VI
• Trombone I–VI (trombone V–VI should be bass trombones)
• Euphonium (two players)
• Tuba (2 players)
• String bass (2 players)
• Celesta (and piano)
• Harp
• Timpani
• Percussion I–V, including:
  • Bass drum
  • Bongos
  • Cowbell (5)
  • Crotales
  • Cymbals (1 pair 8" crash, 3 large crash, 4 large suspended)
  • Field drum
  • Gongs (3)
  • Marimba
  • Parsifal bell
  • Snare drum
  • Temple block
  • Tenor drum
  • Timbales
  • Tubular bells
  • Vibraphone
  • Xylophone

References

• Battisti, Frank L. The Winds of Change: The Evolution of the Contemporary American Wind Band/Ensemble and Its Conductor. Galesville, Maryland: Meredith Music Publications. pg. 106., 2002. ISBN 978-0-634-04522-6.

See also

• List of concert band literature
• List of program music
• Program music