Mike and Erick not only talk logistics, but the evocative nature of the second half of the piece.

Episode 42, ...and the mountains rising nowhere (Part 2)

Erick and Mike take some time to discuss this evocative, aggressive movement depicting the destruction of our planet. Whether by natural disaster or human means, clearly we are past the pinnacle of our time in this movement.

Episode 44, Apotheosis of This Earth, II. Tragedy of Destruction

Mike and Erick talk about the challenges of sincerity in this movement, along with thoughts on how to get the audience and musicians back to a space of comfort after so much discomfort.

Episode 45, Apotheosis of This Earth, III. Postscript

There is a desert on the moon where the dreamer sinks so deeply into the ground that she reaches hell.

Taken from Carl Jung's "Man and His Symbols." we explore Maslanka's first adventure into the wind repertoire.

Episode 46, A Child's Garden of Dreams, I.

A drunken woman falls into the water and comes out renewed and sober.

Mike and Erick talk about the implications of the water in this unique second movement.

Episode 47, A Child's Garden of Dreams, II.

A horde of small animals frightens the dreamer. The animals increase to a tremendous size, and one of them devours the little girl.

Mike and Erick discuss the logistics of this scherzo-like middle movement of A Child's Garden of Dreams.

Episode 48, A Child's Garden of Dreams, III.

A drop of water is seen as it appears when looked at through a microscope. The girl sees that the drop is full of tree branches. This portrays the origin of the world.

Mike and Erick make too many jokes in this deeply personal movement of A Child's Garden of Dreams.

Episode 49, A Child's Garden of Dreams, IV.

An ascent into heaven where pagan dances are being celebrated; and a descent into hell where angels are doing good deeds

Erick and Mike talk about the culmination of Maslanka's first offering for winds.

Episode 50, A Child's Garden of Dreams, V.

Erick and Mike discuss this beautiful piece for band, and the origin of the New England Triptych.

Episode 51: New England Triptych: II. When Jesus Wept

Mike and Erick talk about Schuman's initial offering for the band medium which has become a staple of our mid-century repertoire.

Episode 52: New England Triptych: III. Chester

Mike and Erick talk about the challenges imbedded in this first movement of the New England Triptych and how to make this piece more achievable for less-experienced ensembles.

Episode 53: New England Triptych: I. Be Glad Then, America

Erick and Mike delve into the intricacies of Grainger, the problematic nature of his worldview, and ways to navigate the musical/cultural problems of this piece.

Episode 54: Colonial Song

A couple knocks at the alto clarinet, the cylindrical bore baritone, and (of course) the saxophone family shed some interesting observations about the shortest movement of Lincolshire Posy.

Prevaling Winds: Lincolnshire Posy

Episode 1, Lincolshire Posy: Mvt. 1 Lisbon

Perhaps the most challenging movement to navigate as a conductor and player, join us as we discuss this movement.

Lincolnshire Posy

Episode 5 Lincolshire Posy, Mvt. 5: Lord Melbourne

Probably the most accessible movement for younger ensembles, Mike and Erick discuss possibilities for making this a unique sonic experience, and the challenges presented by the part-writing.

Episode 6, Lincolshire Posy, Mvt. 6: Losy Lady Found

Mike and Erick take a deep dive into the first movement of Hindemith's Symphony for band. Over the course of the next three episodes, we discuss the work from multiple viewpoints and hope to create a sense of clarity about this challenging work.

Hindemith Symphony in B-flat

Episode 7, Hindemith Symphony in B-flat, Mvt. 1: Moderately Fast, with Vigor

Erick and Mike discuss the parallels between this movement and Brahms 3, the interesting orchestration choices that Hindemith makes, and other interesting aspects of this slow/scherzo movement.

Prevailing Winds 

Episode 8, Hindemith Symphony in B-flat Mvt. 2: Andante Grazioso

Erick and Mike discuss Emblems, a commission for the 1964 CBDNA Convention, and Copland's (less-than popular) splash into music for wind band.

Prevailing Winds Podcast

Episode 10: Emblems

Erick and Mike discuss one of the staples of the chamber wind repertoire.

Prevailing Winds

Episode 11, Strauss: Serenade in E-flat

Erick and Mike discuss Wagner's tribute to Carl Maria von Weber, and it's implications in the wind community of the 19th Century.

Episode 12, Wagner: Trauermusik

Erick and Mike discuss endurance, phrasing, and style in this classic finale.

Episode 15, Holst: Suite in E-flat, March

Erick and Mike dig in to Holst's Second Suite in F, and discuss how the accompaniment informs melodic decisions.

Episode 16: Holst Suite in F, March

Erick and Mike talk about the finer points of anvil sounds in this week's episode.

Episode 18: Holst Suite in F, Song of the Blacksmith

Grab your nachos and buckle up! Erick and Mike have a discussion about Mozart's wind output, common performance practices, and the elusive basset horn.

Episode 20: Mozart Wind Serenades, Pregame

Erick and Mike discuss the opening movement of Mozart's longest work for winds.

Episode 21: Serenade in B-flat major KV 361 "Gran Partita" 1. Largo-Molto Allegro

One, two, three... Erick and Mike discuss the two minuet movements of KV 361, and how they provide some needed sustenance to younger players.

Episode 22: Serenade in B-flat major KV 361 "Gran Partita" 2. Menuetto, 4. Menuetto. Allegretto

Erick and Mike discuss Mozart's rambunctious finale to this incredible masterwork.

Episode 26: Serenade in B-flat major KV 361 "Gran Partita" 7. Finale. Molto Allegro

Erick and Mike provide some basic background on Gordon Jacob, along with a play-by-play of the first movement of the suite.

Episode 27: William Byrd Suite, The Earle of Oxford's Marche

Erick and Mike discuss the slow second movement of Jacob's masterwork for band.

Episode 28: William Byrd Suite, Pavana

Mike and Erick talk about the influence of Vincent Persichetti, his musical style, and this light, ironic movement of this pillar of band literature.

Episode 34, Divertimento for Band (Persichetti), I. Prologue

Tubas get the melody? It's true. The jokes fly in this episode about the goofy, sardonic segment in the Divertimento.

Episode 37, Divertimento for Band (Persichetti), IV Burlesque

Mike and Erick discuss this beautiful, lyric movement for the wind band.

Episode 38, Divertimento for Band (Persichetti), V Soliloquy

Welcome to Prevailing Winds, the podcast about the great works for winds. Join your hosts Erick Von Sas and Mike Votta as they discuss repertoire, composers, score study, and informed decision-making while conducting.

Prevailing Winds Podcast

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