Instrumentation

Flute 1, 2

Oboe

Clarinet in B♭ 1, 2, 3

Bass Clarinet

Bassoon

Alto Saxophone 1, 2

Tenor Saxophone

Baritone Saxophone

Trumpet in B♭ 1, 2, 3

Horn in F 1, 2

Trombone 1, 2

Baritone T. C.

Euphonium

Tuba

Timpani

Percussion 1 (triangle, tom-toms, snare drum, claves)

Percussion 2 (xylophone, glockenspiel, bass drum, suspended cymbal)

Premiere

Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras Wind Ensemble – April 28, 2019

Program Note

              Bridge to Manhattan was inspired by a trip I took across the George Washington Bridge in December 2018. This same bridge is the subject of William Schuman’s George Washington Bridge, a piece for concert band he composed in 1950. Crossing the George Washington Bridge is perhaps among the most chaotic driving experiences a person can have, as many lanes of traffic coming from multiple directions converge into a few lanes so countless people can cross from New Jersey into New York City. Constructed between 1927-1931, the bridge is the busiest motor vehicle bridge in the world. In Schuman’s time, though certainly busy, the bridge was different: it saw less traffic, and a lower deck for additional lanes was added in the 1960s. After crossing the bridge, I chose to write a piece about my experience with the George Washington Bridge: the slow merging of traffic from each direction, inching forward through a sea of cars, struggling to change lanes, all while entering one of the largest cities in the world.