Jupiter Effect was composed for the Berklee College Concert Band in 1981 at he request of Peter Hazzard, who was the ensemble’s conductor at he time. The Premiere was in April 1981. In 1981 an astronomical phenomenon call the “Jupiter Effect” took place in which all of the nine planets in the solar system were located in the same quadrant for the first time in millions of years. During the time of this “Jupiter Effect” some people predicted predicted, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions and worldwide mass hysteria. There were even some astrologers predicting the end of the world because of the uneven gravitational pull of the solar system. The piece starts with all of the instruments playing a unison note, suggestive of the planets of the solar system being in a straight line. Instrumentation is: Piccolo, 2 Flutes 2 Oboes, 2 Bassoons, Eb Clarinet (Optional), 3 Clarinets, Eb Alto Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, 2 Alto Saxophones, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, 3 Trumpets, 4 Horns, 3 Trombones, Euphonium, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion (4 players – snare drum, bass drum, vibraphone, xylophone, bongos, tenor drums (2), suspended cymbals, gong)
Premiere
1-Apr-82 by Berklee College of Music Concert Band
Commissioned by
Peter Hazzard