Cheer Up, Pull Away- A Duet for Oboe and Bb Clarinet

Details

Pages

2 Pages

Subject

Music

Languages

English

Product

Digital

Grade

8th, 9th, 10th

Resource Type

Songs

Standard

Not standard specific

Description

Cheer Up, Pull Away: A Duet for Oboe and Bb Clarinet is inspired by the travels of Thomas Forrest (1729-1802). Forrest was a captain in the British Royal Navy and a captain for the British East India Company. During his travels to Indonesia, he recorded his adventures in a journal. The Maluku islands are a province in Indonesia, west of New Guinea. The islands were known for their production of nutmeg and cloves. During Forrest's time in the Maluku islands, he came across a local fishing vessel. There, he noticed that when the sailors on the ship became fatigued, the first-mate would begin a call of motivation to the men at the oars. The men would respond back with a melody, which lighted their drowsy spirits enough to continue rowing for the whole night. Forrest recorded one of these locals songs. Translated into English, the chants contain, "What fishes abound in its main; Behold you island afar; Haste, Haste and the fishes obtain." In 1818, Thomas Van Dyke Wiesenthal of the United States Navy composed a chorus and piano arrangement based on Forrest's journals; "Cheer up! Pull away!" The song featured calls and responses as similar to the sea chanties from the Maluku sailors. The melody in this arrangement of "Cheer Up, Pull Away" is passed between the oboe and the Bb clarinet; resembling the call and response of the Maluku sea chanties. The dynamically loud and abrupt sixteenth note arpeggios throughout the piece represent abrupt transition from drowsy and fatigued sailors to alert and motivated crew after participating in the chanty. This arrangement is suggested for those in grades 8, 9 and 10. Students will gain experience working with a six-eight time signature and controlling dynamics without being distracted with difficult fingerings and octaves. This piece may be used in solo and ensemble competitions throughout the United States of America, or as a fun piece for students to become comfortable in a six-eight time signature. There are 68 measures in this piece. The tempo is set to be dotted quarter note = 80 BPM; students should perform the piece in any tempo best suited to their needs. This piece will be 104 seconds long at quarter note = 80 BPM. Bb Concert Key.