Anglo Music Press

Composer: Philip Sparke
Format: Score and Parts
Instrumentation: Concert Band
Level: 6

Philip Sparke's third symphony, A Colour Symphony, was commissioned by "sinfonischen blasorchester wehdel" conducted by Thomas Ratzek. In the four movements (white, yellow, blue and red) the composer creates links between the instrumentation and harmonic elements and the actual colour of the spectrum the movement stands for. In order to create the greatest richness possible, Philip Sparke used a very large instrumentation including low woodwinds, harp, piano and celli. A Colour Symphony is an impressive and iconic addition to the standard repertoire for large symphonic bands.

1. WHITE
Open harmonies and pure instrumental colours characterize the first movement. A horn intones a long solo against clean textures which resolves into C major (the 'white' keys of the piano) and reaches a tutti climax. A pastoral interlude leads to a calming of the mood which brings a quiet close.

2. YELLOW
The second movement focuses on the higher-pitched instruments of the band, creating a feeling of brightness and sunshine, both in colour and mood. Melodic motives are short and constantly push the musical argument forward, frequently changing key centres and registers. A longer tune in minor mode emerges briefly but the sunshine soon returns to close the movement.

3. BLUE
The third movement features only woodwind, percussion and strings, and, although by no means a 'blues', has an unremitting feeling of stillness and desolation, which the word 'blue' can sometimes conjure up. A long clarinet chorale is echoed by sparse scoring for strings, harp and piano.

4. RED
In contrast, the fourth movement is for brass and percussion and sees red as the colour of positivity and optimism which characterises most brass writing. The various brass families are featured individually and collectively in energetic fugato passages and blatant fanfares.

5. GREEN
The finale is takes the term green from nature, meaning 'lush, fertile and vibrant'. It mixes the many instrumental colours of the wind band in myriad combinations and, unlike the other movements, is built around rich, rather than primary, colours. Full of drive and energy, the movement is dance-like in character and closes triumphally with brass fanfares under woodwind flourishes.

Duration: 26:04