Tsunami: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$78.00 USD

Tsunami: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Tsunami: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-24670
Price: 78.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Vince Gassi

Grade: 4 (Medium Difficult)

Item: 00-24670

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In 1,500 B.C. the volcano of Santorin, an island to the north of Crete, exploded with unprecedented violence sending millions of tons of volcanic ash into the atmosphere, producing intense atmospheric shock waves, and creating disastrous tsunamis. It is now believed that this caused the extinction of the great Minoan civilization. This piece was written in the spring of 2004, prior to the more recent tsunami in December of that year, and is dedicated to the memory of all who were affected by that disaster. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Tsunami: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Alfred Concert Band

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 300

UPC: 038081270463

SKU: 00-24670

More about this title

About the Composer: Vince Gassi

Vince Gassi has established himself as a prolific composer with over 100 published works since joining Alfred Music in 2006. His pieces balance musical substance with genuine engagement for student ensembles, earning regular performances at major festivals and international concert venues across North America, Europe, and Japan. His compositions consistently appear on contest and festival programs.

Gassi holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Western Ontario and advanced study in composition and arranging from the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles. He earned his Ph.D. from York University in Toronto. For a quarter century, he taught instrumental music at the elementary and secondary levels and remains an active guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician. His seminars on creative engagement and digital workflow strategies for music directors reflect his commitment to developing both student musicians and the teachers who lead them.

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Why we love this

Gassi crafts this programmatic work with structural clarity and dramatic pacing that holds student attention while making genuine musical demands. The piece translates a historical catastrophe into instrumental storytelling without resorting to mere tone painting, giving your band a substantial contest or festival offering with real artistic depth.

What to expect

The music captures geological upheaval and human tragedy through instrumental means. It moves from ominous atmospheric suggestion into mounting turbulence, creating visceral tension without sacrificing musical coherence. The final moments carry both the weight of historical loss and a sense of memorial respect.

Who it's for

High school and advanced middle school concert bands seeking a Grade 4 programmatic work with festival and contest credentials. Directors looking for substantial repertoire that engages students intellectually while building their ability to execute complex textures and dramatic arc.

How to get the most out of it

Build the atmospheric density gradually in the opening section. The piece unfolds its power through cumulative layering rather than immediate impact, so resist the urge to front-load dynamics.
Balance the competing thematic material carefully during transitional passages. Gassi layers multiple ideas simultaneously, and clarity of texture will define how well the programmatic narrative registers with listeners.
Attend closely to the percussion writing. The ensemble's sense of catastrophic event depends on precise coordination between pitched and unpitched percussion parts, particularly in climactic sections.
Shape the final resolution deliberately. The ending statement carries the weight of the piece's commemorative purpose, so allow time for the musical gesture to settle completely.

How to use it

Position this as a centerpiece for a concert built around programmatic or historical themes, or as a festival/contest entry where its dramatic scope and Grade 4 difficulty align with your ensemble's competitive goals. It works equally well as the anchor of a concert exploring music that responds to natural disaster or cultural memory.