JAMES M. DAVID, composer
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​Big Four on the River
for wind ensemble


Purchase score and parts through Murphy Music Press
Grade 4 - $125 - ca. 5.5 minutes

View Perusal Score (opens new window)

Program Notes

“Big Four on the River” is a short work for wind ensemble inspired by the historic riverfront cities of my native Southeastern United States. Cities like Savannah, Charleston, and New Orleans share a rich cultural heritage that reflects the diversity and conflict found within the region. Of course, jazz played a strong role in these towns and is on full display in this piece. The “big four” refers to the emphasis on the fourth beat of each bar in traditional jazz (particularly in second line drumming). The work moves through time beginning with a strong Dixieland flavor, moving to the swing era, followed by 70’s fusion, and finally a touch of indie grunge. This work is dedicated to my colleague and fellow southerner and trombonist Dr. Rebecca Phillips.

Conference Performances:
2019 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic
2017 Western International Band Conference

2016 North Carolina All-State Senior High School Honor Band
2015 Minnesota Music Educators Association Midwinter Clinic 

Corrected Piccolo Part (opens new window)
Corrected Clarinet 4 Part (opens new window)
  • Home
  • about
  • wind ensemble
    • Message from Arecibo
    • Flying Jewels
    • Urban Light
    • Troublesome Fire
    • Symphony no. 1
    • Ghosts of the Old Year
    • Call to Commitment
    • With Soul Serene
    • March Tumbao
    • Lookfar
    • Menlo Park, 1879
    • Zephyrus
    • Flexible Instrumentation
    • Heartland Verses
    • Swing Landscape
    • I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold
    • Concerto for Vibraphone
    • The Moorlands
    • Big Four on the River
    • All Dark Is Now No More
    • Temple's Grace
    • From the Shaken Tower
    • Two-Lane Blacktop
    • Sinfonietta no. 3
  • compositions
    • wind ensemble
    • clarinet >
      • all clarinet works
      • clarinet sonata
      • AUTO '66 - Clarinet Concerto
    • saxophone >
      • all saxophone works
      • Saxophone Sonata
      • L'oiseau dans l'espace
      • Saxophone/Percussion Double Quartet
    • trombone >
      • all trombone works
      • Trombone Sonata
      • Five American Dances
      • Song of the Valar
      • Bass Trombone Sonata
      • Partiels 2
      • Garden of the Gods
    • Other Brass Works >
      • Of Unsurpassed Heroes
      • Trumpet Sonata
    • Percussion >
      • The Dandelion
      • NOLA - BELA - SOWEGA
    • large ensemble >
      • Tin Lizzies on Old Fall River
      • LASCAUX
      • KAFKA - Sax Concerto
    • chamber ensemble >
      • Clarinet and Horn Trio
    • solo / electroacoustic
    • choral / vocal >
      • KUBLA KHAN
  • contact
  • Report Performance