Iron and Steam

Description

Take your band back into the 19th Century during the Golden Era of the railroads. This piece only uses the first 6 notes of the Bb scale to capture the industrial might and progress of the steam age. With driving rhythms, bold wind parts, fun sound effects, and train whistles, the sounds of the railroads will be brought to the stage!

Program Notes

After receiving the honor of this commission project, I quickly realized that I wanted to compose a piece that captured the feel and sounds of the Golden Era of the railroads and their impact on the Great Dakota Boom in the latter part of the 19th century. My goal was to capture the industrial might and progress of the steam age and bring the railroads (that came to Sioux Falls in 1868) right into the band room and auditorium! Oh! And to write it in a contemporary band format for beginning band students!

“Iron and Steam” features a variety of sound effects and musical “devices” to bring our steam locomotive to life, and features most every section in the band—all while only using the first six notes of the concert B-flat scale! There are driving rhythms, bold Wind parts, tuneful melodies, glissandos, train whistles, sound effects—it’s all in there! It is this composer’s hope that our youngest band students will enjoy bringing the railroad to life once again, and that it will be a fun and entertaining experience for musicians and audiences alike!