portrait of a clown
frank ticheli - Grade 2
About the music
Portrait of a Clown is a musical portrait of the different emotions of a clown: happy, sad, gentle, and comical. It was composed for the Murchison, Texas Middle School Matador Band. The piece is scored in such a way that bands with limited low brass and low woodwinds voices can still manage to perform it without losing the integrity of the piece.
Tempo & style
QN=ca. 160 throughout
Gentle, flowing
Gentle, flowing
Ranges
Flute
|
Clarinet 1
|
Clarinet 2
|
Trumpet
|
Trombone
|
instrumentation
WOODWIND
Flute and Oboe Clarinet Bass Clarinet Alto Sax Tenor Sax Baritone Sax Bassoon |
BRASS
Cornet 1-2 French Horn Trombone Euphonium Tuba |
PERCUSSION
Xylophone Snare Drum Bass Drum Tambourine Triangle Crash Cymbals Woodblock |
teaching concept categories
teaching considerations
This piece is a great example of programmatic music for young students. Further, as is typical with Frank Ticheli's compositions, helpful notes about the form and style of the work are included in the score. The piece is written in ABA form, a good opportunity to teach form. Articulations abound in this piece and are one of several crucial aspects of the style of the piece.
Consider discussing with students the way that clowns (and mimes) communicate and how this is similar (primarily or exclusively non-verbal) in the way that a conductor communicates with the ensemble. Try incorporating some conducting gestures into rehearsal such as legato and staccato style. Also, draw connections between the way clowns, mimes, and stage actors have to exaggerate gestures, facial expressions and even make-up, and the way that a musical ensemble needs to exaggerate dynamic contrasts and other expressive elements.
Consider discussing with students the way that clowns (and mimes) communicate and how this is similar (primarily or exclusively non-verbal) in the way that a conductor communicates with the ensemble. Try incorporating some conducting gestures into rehearsal such as legato and staccato style. Also, draw connections between the way clowns, mimes, and stage actors have to exaggerate gestures, facial expressions and even make-up, and the way that a musical ensemble needs to exaggerate dynamic contrasts and other expressive elements.
Resources
Not available on SmartMusic
JW Pepper - Portrait of a Clown
JW Pepper - Portrait of a Clown