Firefall: B-flat Clarinet 1
By Roland Barrett
Grade: 3
Item: 98-PC-DB1300_C1
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Description
Create a musical fireworks show with this triumphant work that recalls the famous Yosemite Firefall in which glowing red embers were pushed off a cliff, creating a spectacular stream of sparks and fire as it plunged down the side of the mountain. Easy multimeter passages are fun to perform, while interesting percussion instruments such as water gong and brake drum add to the powerful nature of the work. Outstanding!
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Concert Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1300_C1
More about this title
About the Composer: Roland Barrett
Roland Barrett has shaped music theory and composition pedagogy at the University of Oklahoma since 2001, where he teaches 20th century topics across undergraduate and graduate curricula. His fifteen years as Assistant Director of Bands informed a distinctive compositional voice that speaks fluently to ensemble performance; he continues to arrange for the Pride of Oklahoma marching band while maintaining an active publication catalog exceeding two hundred works.
Barrett's compositions have earned national recognition through performances by the Dallas Wind Symphony, All-State ensembles, and broadcasts on NPR and USA Network. His work has been featured at the Midwest Band & Orchestra Convention, the National Trumpet Competition, and the International Trumpet Guild convention. A multiple ASCAPlus award recipient, Barrett brings both technical mastery and practical understanding of what makes music work in the ensemble setting.
Why we love this
Barrett captures genuine spectacle here without relying on bombast alone. The mixed meter passages feel natural rather than imposed, giving your band real rhythmic engagement without overwhelming Grade 3 players. The choice of percussion instruments (water gong and brake drum) elevates the color palette in ways that transform a programmatic piece into something musically substantive.
What to expect
The piece evokes the visual drama of its subject: a cascade of light and heat plunging downward, sustained and powerful. The mixed meters create a sense of motion and transformation, while the water gong and brake drum punctuate the musical landscape with colors that feel both primal and precise.
Who it's for
Grade 3 bands ready to engage multimeter writing without excessive difficulty. This works well for groups developing confidence in rhythmic reading and for ensembles seeking repertoire with strong programming appeal and genuine musical substance.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the meter shifts clearly in rehearsal before adding tempo. Barrett's multimeter writing flows best when players understand the underlying pulse, not when they're fighting a time signature change.
- Balance the percussion color carefully. The water gong and brake drum create the atmospheric heart of the work; allow them to sit slightly forward in your mix rather than burying them in the ensemble texture.
- Use the digital score to isolate passages where the meter changes and the full band is in unison. Locking those moments of alignment pays off dramatically in performance.
- Shape the arch of the entire work as a single momentum. Firefall succeeds when the acceleration and descent feel inevitable, not episodic.
How to use it
Position this as a centerpiece for a fall or winter concert where you want to shift energy and visual interest. The programmatic title and accessible Grade 3 level make it an excellent choice for community engagement events; it also reads well on a contest or festival program where the technical writing and distinct orchestration will stand out.
Skills your students will build
- Reading mixed meters (3/4 and 4/4) in context
- Maintaining ensemble alignment through meter changes
- Responding to unconventional percussion timbres (water gong, brake drum) as primary musical colors
- Shaping a programmatic arc across an extended work
- Balancing rhythmic precision with musical expressivity at Grade 3 level