Glitch: 2nd B-flat Clarinet

Koehn captures the visual and sonic language of digital gaming in purely acoustic terms, which means your students engage with contemporary culture through their instruments. The programmatic approach holds attention across a full band arrangement without requiring extended techniques or unusual instrumentation, making it accessible while genuinely fun to rehearse and perform.

The piece channels the energy, unpredictability, and strange beauty of a video game unfolding in real time. You'll hear mysterious soundscapes give way to moments of action and excitement, punctuated by the digital artifacts and errors that give the work its title and character.

Grade 2.5 bands looking for engaging concert repertoire that speaks to student interests without compromising musical content. This works equally well for groups building confidence in reading and ensemble balance as for bands ready to tackle more expressive phrasing and programmatic interpretation.

• Pay attention to the rhythmic precision required in the glitch sections; these moments need crisp articulation across all sections to land the comedic or unsettling effect Koehn intends.
• Balance the textural shifts between busier passages and sparse moments so the piece maintains narrative momentum rather than feeling choppy.
• Encourage your students to think cinematically about phrasing; this is program music, and treating it as storytelling rather than abstract form helps younger players understand why each section matters.

Program this as a contemporary centerpiece in a concert that might otherwise lean classical or traditional. Pairing it with a march or a lyrical work creates contrast and shows your audience the range of what concert band can express. It also works as a pops or family concert feature, where its approachable story and engaging sounds draw listeners who might not otherwise attend band events.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated passages
• Sectional balance and blend in layered textures
• Phrasing and storytelling in programmatic music
• Dynamic control and contrast across contrasting sections
• Reading articulation markings and ensemble coordination