Concert Band

A Bluegrass Overture

Grade 5 | 6 Mins

A Bluegrass Overture was commissioned by Gabriel Wooley and funded by a grant from Leslie and Cathy Anderson for the Central Kentucky Concert Band to celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2016. The first performance took place in the Lexington Opera House on May 8th 2016.

This energetic overture opens with an introduction loosely based on ’bluegrass’ chords before a slower, legato chorale appears on clarinets and flutes. This is short-lived and soon a new mood is introduced, based on repeated-note accompaniment. This leads to the main theme, heavily syncopated with bluesy inflections. A central section features a cantabile melody, which changes key frequently, before the main theme reappears, leading to a triumphal presentation of the earlier chorale melody.