Inspired by the ever-popular snack, “Pop!” is a grade 3 band piece by composer Tawnie Olson that imitates the sounds popping popcorn beginning with that first, single kernel to the exploding sounds of an overflowing pot. Through the use of imitation, additive processes, playful articulation, and the development of tune fragments, Olson crafted a piece that is relatable and great fun to play. “Pop!” also has an aleatoric passage that gives young performers the opportunity to co-compose by improvising sounds that suggest of pop of popcorn in the making.
BandQuest, an exciting series of new music and accompanying curricula for band, is a program published by the American Composers Forum. The series was started as a response to feedback from music educators that there is a pressing need for new, fresh band music. The heart of this program is new works written by a diverse group of leading American composers who have created challenging pieces that are a true departure from standard middle school repertoire. Every BandQuest project includes a residency component in which the composer works collaboratively with a middle school as they create their new piece. Many BandQuest pieces are accompanied by an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to assist students as they learn the music and to integrate each piece with non-music studies. Visit www.bandquest.org to learn more about this innovative series, and email bandquest@composersforum.org to request a free downloadable audio catalog.