Randall Standridge Wrath of the Mechanical Monsters - Standridge - Concert Band - Gr. 0.5-1

Composer: Randall Standridge
Format: Score and Parts
Instrumentation: Concert Band
Level: 0.5 - 1

A couple of years ago, I wrote a piece entitled Mechanical Monsters. It was my first stab at writing Grade .5 literature, and I was very pleased with the results. The piece seemed to resonate with students and conductors alike, which tickled me to no end. The B-movie idea of robotic monstrosities roaming the landscape is very much to my personal tastes, and I'm glad so many enjoyed it. And just like any B-movie, I thought, "well, why not do a sequel".

There are a million reasons not to do a sequel. Unlike something original, a sequel comes laden with expectations, the central question people ask being: "Will this live up to the first one?" I don't know. I hope so.

I promised myself I wouldn't write another one unless I had a really good idea. So, I sat on it for a few years. Eventually, titles started occurring to me, all styled after the title of horror sequels from the '50s and '60s. Bride of the Mechanical Monsters. Attack of the Mechanical Monsters. Son of the Mechanical Monsters. Day of the Mechanical Monsters. Mechanical Monsters Beach Party A-Go-Go.

No, no, no, no, and (as fun as it sounds) no. Then, on a napkin in a restaurant, I wrote the following: Wrath of the Mechanical Monsters. Bingo.

This satisfied the B-Movie title I was looking for, while also suggesting that I incorporate the chant tune Dies Irae (Day of Wrath) into the work. I also knew I needed to make it a little bit more challenging rhythmically and harmonically, as it needed to be a logical continuation of the educational concepts of the first one.

So, here we are again, my friends. In the work, you will hear sirens and the sound of marching mechanical monstrosities as they make their way into the city to wreak havoc on the general populace and bring their own brand of musical destruction to the cityscape. Beware, my friends, for the day of reckoning is upon us! Run for your lives! They're here! Theyre here!

Peace, Love, and Music (and imminent destruction...again! Mwahahahahaaa!)
- Randall Standridge

Educational goals of the work:

• 8th Note counting and independence, dotted Quarter Note Patterns
• First and Second Ending Repeats, as well as D.S. al Coda (Dies Irae al Coda?)
• Articulations: Staccato, Tenuto, Accents
• This work uses the range of the first 6 notes that are typically taught to developing band students but adds in the concert Db and Concert F#. I have tried to make it repetitive enough that teaching and retention would be easy and effective