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A Soaring Flight for wind band

Albert Schnelzer

A Soaring Flight for wind band

This piece was commissioned for the 500-year anniversary of Military Music in Sweden by the seven professional Swedish wind bands. The inspiration for this piece came when I sat on a flight from Arlanda (Stockholm) and looked at the landscape below. I imagine the music like a soaring flight over the Nordic landscape with its forests, mountains and ever changing weather and climate. A piece that celebrates the wind band, the wind music as well as the nature that surrounds us. After a short slow introduction we take off into the air, wonder at the landscape far below, there is some turbulence and then a ray of light shines through the clouds. After a while we land slowly and a chorus of voices play the main theme in a canon. Finally only the solo horn is left and plays something reminiscent of a herd calling on a traditional Swedish Cow horn (“vallhorn”). After this calm section we are off again and once again soar through the air. We experience more and more bursts of wind and the climax builds up until we reach our destination as the orchestra plays its last, bright, loud and grandiose chord. We’re home.

Albert Schnelzer

INSTRUMENTATION

Piccolo (ad lib.)

2 Flutes (2nd ad lib.)

2 Oboes (2nd ad lib.)

Clarinet in Eb (ad lib.)

3 Clarinets in Bb (2nd & 3rd ad lib.)

Bass Clarinet (ad lib.)

Contrabass Clarinet (ad lib.)

2 Bassoons (2nd ad lib.)

2 Alto Saxophones (ad lib.)

Tenor Saxophone (ad lib.)

Baritone Saxophone (ad lib.)

3 Cornets in Bb (ad lib.)

3 Trumpets in Bb (3rd ad lib.)

4 Horns in F (2nd & 4th ad lib.)

3 Tenor Trombones (3rd ad lib.)

Bass Trombone (ad lib.)

2 Euphoniums in C (ad lib.)

2 Tubas (2nd ad lib.)

Double Bass (String Bass)

Timpani

Percussion 1 (ad lib.): Marimba, Vibraphone

Percussion 2 (ad lib.): Anvil, Suspended Cymbal

Percussion 3 (ad lib.): Tam Tam (large), Clash Cymbals, 5 Tom-toms

Percussion 4 (ad lib.): Mark Tree (Wind Chimes), Large Bass Drum (Gran Cassa)

Smallest possible ensemble: 1 fl, 1 ob, 1 cl, 1 bsn, 2 tpts, 2 hns, 2 trbs, 1 tuba, D.B. and 1 timp/perc (one player)

Transposed Score

Duration: ca. 8'30"

Commissioned for the 500th anniversary of military music in Sweden by Arméns musikkår, Marinens musikkår, Livgardets dragonmusikkår, Blåsarsymfonikerna, Göteborg Wind Orchestra, GotlandsMusiken, and Östgötamusiken.

World premiere 1 February 2026; Berwaldhallen, Stockholm, Sweden Arméns musikkår, cond. Emil Eliasson

ISMN 979-0-070-15013-2

Score: GE 15013 Parts: GE 15014 Study score: GE 15015

A Soaring Flight

Works by

Albert Schnelzer

available at Gehrmans Musikförlag

Orchestra

• A Soaring Flight, for wind/brass band (2025)

• Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Orchestra: Arctic Starflower (2025)

• Tales of Darkness and Sorrow (2024)

• Aksak and Ciphers, for string/chamber orchestra (2023)

• Azraeel Suite, for winds and percussion (2008/2022)

• Through the Eye of the Pegasus, for orchestra (2021)

• Min själ var en ljusblå dräkt: three songs for soprano and chamber orchestra to words by Edith Södergran (2004/2021)

• Burn My Letters: Remembering Clara, for orchestra (2019)

• Apollonian Dances, for string orchestra and percussion (2003/2019)

• Piano Concerto: This Is Your Kingdom, for piano and orchestra (2018)

• Violin Concerto No. 2: Nocturnal Songs, for violin and orchestra (2018)

• Emperor Akbar, for chamber orchestra (2009/18)

• Bulletproof, for large orchestra (2016)

• Magical Allusions, for oboe and small orchestra (2015)

• Clarinet Concerto: But Your Angel’s On Holiday (2015)

• Brain Damage: Concerto for Orchestra (2014)

• Animal Songs: five songs for soprano and orchestra to words by Margaret Atwood (2013)

• Tales from Suburbia, for large orchestra (2012)

• Violin Concerto: Coupled Airs, for violin and orchestra (2011)

• Cello Concerto: Crazy Diamond, for cello and orchestra (2010)

• Emperor Akbar, for string orchestra (2009/10)

• Oboe Concerto: The Enchanter, for oboe and orchestra (2009)

• A Freak in Burbank, for orchestra (2008/09)

• Azraeel Suite, for symphonic wind band (2008)

• Symphony No. 1: Azraeel, for chamber orchestra (2007)

• Bassoon Concerto: Auroral Dances, for bassoon and orchestra (2006)

Chamber Music

• Oboe Sonata – The Puppeteer, for oboe and piano (2024)

• Aksak and Ciphers, for string quartet/sextet (2023)

• I Remember River Clear, for horn and piano (2022)

• Playground, for solo piano (2021)

• Apollonian Dances, for string quartet and percussion (2003/2016)

• Aqua Songs, for piano quintet (2015)

• Into Thin Air, for clarinet and piano (2013)

• Con Forza, for brass quintet (2010)

• String Quartet No. 2: Emperor Akbar, for string quartet (2009)

• String Quartet No. 1: The Devil in the Belfry, for string quartet (2008)

• Lamento for the Naughty Children under the Second Umbrella, for violin, clarinet, cello and prepared piano (2004)

• Requiem, for soprano and piano (2004)

• Apollonian Dances, for violin and piano (2003)

• Predatory Dances, for violin, cello and piano (2003)

• Frozen Landscape, for cello/violin and piano (2002)

• Wolfgang is Dancing!, for violin, clarinet and cello (2002)

• Dance with the Devil, for solo piano (2000)

• Solitude, for solo violin/cello (1999)

Opera/Oratorio

• Salt, oratorio for soprano, baritone, choir and orchestra (2020)

• Norrmalmstorgsdramat: att dö på sin post, opera for five singers and chamber ensemble (2017)

For more information: www.gehrmans.se

GE 15013