Fantastic Dreams - Frank Ticheli (Premiere)

Fantastic Dreams
Frank Ticheli, composer
Commissioned by:
San Diego State University and the Davis Commissioning Project
SDSU Wind Symphony
Shannon Kitelinger, conductor
Balboa Theatre
San Diego, CA
April 12, 2024
_____________________________
Movements & Timestamps:
● Movement 1 - Dancing with the Muses: ➡️ 00:15
● Movement 2 - Elysian Fields: ➡️ 3:50
● Movement 3 - Magic Carpet: ➡️ 7:48
● Movement 4 - L.A. Noir: ➡️ 10:30
_____________________________
Fantastic Dreams Program Note:
Fantastic Dreams was composed during a six-week residency in the late summer and early fall of 2023 at the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, New Hampshire. The work’s four short movements-really dreamscapes- are wide ranging in mood and style, yet connected via shared musical motives, gestures, and themes.
“Dancing with the Muses,” bursts forth ecstatically, settling into a series of short, light-hearted variations, each showcasing a different instrument or group-bassoon, oboe, horns, alto saxophones, trumpets. Short episodes and ghostly gestures interrupt the variations, like unrelated thoughts interrupting a dream.
“Elysian Fields,” is a meditation directly influenced by my quiet morning walks at the MacDowell Colony amid peaceful forests and meadows. Unhurried lyrical lines float over a gentle walking motif that lilts back and forth like a lullaby.
“Magic Carpet” is a brisk two-minute scherzo that whirls and whisks in daring flight. At the midpoint, a respite- featuring solo oboe and flute with celesta-is but a moment to catch one’s breath before hurtling on again in magical flight.
The dream journey takes a dark turn:
“L.A. Noir” pays tribute to old Hollywood’s film noir tradition-a frantic chase scene, a dark figure lurking in the shadows, a moment of quiet, anxious anticipation. Midway through, the calm oboe melody from the scherzo’s middle section reappears, now in a more menacing atmosphere. The suspense builds relentlessly, the music culminating in a ferocious roar that suggests the melodramatic endings typical of many film noir pictures.
-Frank Ticheli
_____________________________
Commissioned by the Davis Commissioning Project for the San Diego State University Wind Symphony, Shannon Kitelinger, conductor.
The Davis Commissioning Project: Amplifying Innovative Voices in Wind Band Music:
Established in 2022, the San Diego State University Wind Symphony proudly presents the Davis Commissioning Project. This exciting initiative fosters the creation and premiere of groundbreaking new compositions for wind band.
Committed to artistic freedom, the project offers composers a unique platform: to write for the wind band medium without creative constraints. We seek a diverse range of voices, welcoming both established composers and those venturing into the wind band realm for the first time.
The impact extends beyond the premiere. Funding from the project allows the SDSU Wind Symphony to share these commissioned works with regional, national, and international audiences at conferences and on tours. These performances reach a broad spectrum of listeners through outreach concerts, clinics, and open rehearsals, ensuring the music is widely experienced and appreciated.
The Davis Commissioning Project celebrates the artistry of wind band music, enriching the repertoire and amplifying its impact on a global stage.
The project premiered in 2024 with works: Fantastic Dreams by Frank Ticheli and Medusa by Jocelyn Hagen