Three Things for Dr. Seuss
General Info
Year: 1972
Duration: c. 11:30
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: HaMaR
Cost: Score and Parts - $0.00 | Score Only - $0.00
Movements
1: Thing One Overture
2: Thing Two Nocturne
3: Thing Three Finale
Instrumentation
Player 1: Timpani & Temple Blocks & 3 Wood Blocks & Suspended Cymbal
Player 2: Xylophone & Vibraphone
Player 3: Marimba & Xylophone & Vibraphone
Player 4: Xylophone & Vibraphone
Player 5: Glockenspiel & Xylophone & Vibraphone
Player 6: Tubular Bells & Temple Blocks & 3 Wood Blocks & Bass Drum & Snare Drum & 2 Tom-toms & Tam-tam & Suspended Cymbal & Ratchet
Player 7: Harp & Guiro & Tam-tam & Suspended Cymbal
Program Notes
The ‘Dr. Seuss’ of Hutcheson’s Three Things is the nom de plume of Theodor Seuss Geisel, the famous author of numerous children’s books. In some of Dr. Seuss’s stories, strange creatures called ‘Things’ are encountered. With tongue in cheek, the composer has entitled his three movements: ‘Overture (Thing One),’ ‘Nocturne (Thing Two)’ and ‘Finale (Thing Three).’ The work, dedicated to MSU faculty composer H. Owen Reed and written especially for the Percussion Ensemble, is scored for six percussion players and harp.
Owen Reed was my major professor during my doctoral studies. Owen was meticulous about the details of musical notation, and he was striving to standardize notation practices for the percussion sections of bands and orchestras as well as for the percussion ensemble. At the time I was studying with him he was writing a book with Joel Leach titled SCORING FOR PERCUSSION. My approach to percussion writing is due in great measure to Owen’s knowledge of the subject.[1]
Errata
Awards
Commercial Discography
Recent Performances
This 1973 performance is by The Michigan State University Percussion Ensemble with guest harpist Mary Gerstenlauer. Mark Johnson conducted.
To submit a performance please join the TEK Percussion Database
Works for Percussion by this Composer
Concerto for Solo Percussion & Wind Symphony - Multiple Percussion; Wind Ensemble
Duo Sonata - Multiple Percussion; Clarinet
Interplay (Hutcheson) - Multiple Percussion; Saxophone
Nuclear Conversion for Solo Percussion - Multiple Percussion
Three Things for Dr. Seuss - Percussion Sextet; Harp
Additional Resources
References