Coal and Steam

It was my pleasure and a great honor to have one of my closest band director friends premiere this piece. Gabe Martinez studied at Elmhurst College with me and was among the many performers that I played with regularly. His students were very excited to perform this and I had the fortune to meet some of them after the concert. It was wonderful to hear their positive feedback.

Program Notes

Coal and Steam is a piece written for middle school band.  It features vivid imagery of trains, such as whistles and horns.  It begins with a fanfare which expresses the grandeur of steam locomotives, followed by a driving energy once it begins to move.  Coincidentally, the first version was written in 2019 when Union Pacific’s #4014 Big Boy, the largest operating steam locomotive in the world, finished restoration.

Instrumentation

Written for symphonic band of any size (Number indicates how many parts - some parts include divisi)

2 Flutes
1 Oboe
1 Bassoon
2 Clarinets (B flat)
1 Bass Clarinet (B flat)
2 Trumpets (B flat)
1 Horn (F)
2 Trombones
1 Euphonium
1 Tuba
Timpani
Chimes
Glockenspiel
Snare Drum
Bass Drum
Triangle
Anvil
Shaker