Watauga
General Info
Year of Published: 2019
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Difficulty: Intermediate
Duration: 00:04:10
Cost: $42.00
Instrumentation
Player 1: Glockenspiel
Player 2: Chimes
Player 3: Xylophone & Woodblock
Player 4: Vibraphone & Tom Tom (Medium)
Player 5: Vibraphone & Tom Tom (Large)
Player 6: Marimba & Tom Tom (Medium)
Player 7: Marimba & Tom Tom (Large)
Player 8: Timpani
Player 9: Snare Drum
Player 10: Bass Drum
Player 11: Large Tam-Tam & Wind Chimes
Player 12: Suspended Cymbal & Shaker / Shekere
Program Notes
Watauga is a word that is very familiar to those who live in the Appalachian region of Tennessee and North Carolina. There are several towns, two bodies of water, a residential college, several businesses, and even a newspaper named Watauga that exist in the region. As valued as the word is however, nobody seems to know exactly what it means. Various sources cite the word’s definition as being a Native American term whose precise meaning has been lost. More than likely, the term is of Cherokee origin since that tribe used to inhabit the region before colonization. One suggested definition that I found particularly intriguing was “the land beyond”. I found it quite interesting that they would connect a word typically associated with a body of water to something more profound and spiritual. If you ever visit the area associated with the word though, it makes more sense. There is a beautifully majestic sense of ancient power and mystical splendor that can be felt in the mountains, in the forest, and even in the air when you explore the wilderness of Appalachia. I was fortunate to spend my childhood surrounded by this natural beauty, and even now that I live in the Midwest, I always feel called to come visit and explore the mountains again and again.
This percussive fanfare is my way of paying homage to the epic natural beauty of my homeland and an effort to encapsulate into musical form the spellbinding power that the mountainous wilderness holds. This work was commissioned and dedicated to the outstanding students of the Science Hill High School percussion ensemble as well as my first percussion teacher, Dan McGuire, to whom I am deeply grateful for all of his guidance on setting my musical journey off on the right foot.
Works for Percussion by this Composer
Like a Father - Marimba Duo
The Black Knight - Percussion Nonet
To Build a Bond So Strong - Alto Saxophone & Vibraphone
Watauga - Percussion 12