STAGECOACH PASS

A Wild-Wild-West Adventure
I. On The Plains II. Noon Showdown III. The Evening Saloon

Wildlife Connection: https://youtu.be/RWCMxeyT93A

- Through the first movement, I wanted to paint the picture of a wild horse running loose
on the plains with its hair in the wind while a brave cowboy chases in its pursuit. Through
the stages of the hunt, I also wanted to highlight the triumph of both the horse and
cowboy; the reference recording linked above involves the mental connection between
galloping and horses. The oboe and its higher range work well for the first movement
due to the sun's brightness, the pursuer's positive attitude, and the joy of the horse as it
gallops across the plains. The music skipping in a consistent pattern and decreasing the
note duration creates a sense of progression, just as an animal does when speeding up
or trying to get into a constant stride.

Overall Contribution: https://youtu.be/hpnoWDCBdIw

- The whistling heard as an opener to this song is very similar to the voice of the English
Horn, specifically, in the second movement, near the middle. I did this to connect the
culture and traditions of the cowboys with the music itself, and although not an actual
whistle, the timbre fits quite well.

Showdown Movie Reference: https://youtu.be/sXldafIl5DQ?t=109

- Although a little cheezy, I used this video to reference the showdown portion of the
piece. This is due to the very present, dark woodwind sound allowing the music to
captivate the audience with darkness, excitement, and anticipation. There are moments
of speed as well as those of tension, which I tried to mimic.

Saloon Piano Music: https://youtu.be/eUgcDZ_328Y

- I used this as a resource to try and emulate a piano in the voicing of a saxophone.
Although tricky, a straightforward factor assisted in the process; the raw sound produced
by the older piano and the same type of sound that a saxophonist may make. The most
considerable challenge was not being able to create chords, but using different kinds of
motion and chromatic patterns, it isn’t entirely bland in tone.