THE STARS ASLEEP, THE BREAK OF DAY for concert band
The Stars Asleep, The Break of Day by Bob Margolis. Hear streaming audio on this page. Suitable for elementary and middle school bands, 2-1/3 minutes duration, Grade 1 1/2.
Hear a complete performance in stereo streaming audio using (& requiring) QuickTime 3 or newer:
- Hear a complete performance of The Stars Asleep, The Break of Day
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DEDICATIONS
to
Marion West
Lake Highland High School
Dallas, Texas
who encouraged the composition the present work,
"The Stars Asleep, The Break of Day"
and
to
Laura Sindberg
Roosevelt Middle School of the Arts
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
who encouraged the composition of the first version of
"The Stars, Asleep"
PROGRAM NOTE
THE STARS ASLEEP, THE BREAK OF DAY is my most instrumentally colorful Grade 1 work and I believe in this area it breaks new ground. Furthermore, the musical content greatly exceeds "Grade 1" expectations. Beginning band students have something to study here that presents opportunity for real musical development.
Band directors will notice immediately that the scoring does not look like Grade 1 music. (The music actually sounds like a Grade 3 work, but it is not.) The ranges and technical demands are truly only Grade 1, but the variety in the instrumentation is ample. Numerous cues and cross-cues allow less secure bands to rehearse or
perform the work.
The flexibility of tempo in the first movement presents unique challenges in performance and teaching. The sparkling and dancelike second movement is cinematic in its instrumental colors and pacing, and will be fun to perform. Instrumental sections that are used to being buried in the mix will discover that their roles in band music can be significant.
BOB MARGOLIS
Instrumentation
