Winds of Nagual

Winds of Nagual is a 1985 composition for wind ensemble by the North American composer Michael Colgrass. It has become a standard of the wind ensemble/concert band repertoire. Based on the writings of Carlos Castaneda, the work consists of seven movements. Parts are available for rental from Carl Fischer.^[1]

In 1985, the piece won the  [nl] and the Sudler International Composition Competition.

Structure[]

• Movement 1: "The Desert: Don Juan Emerges from the Mountains"
• Movement 2: "Don Genaro Appears"
• Movement 3: "Carlos Stares at the River and Becomes a Bubble"
• Movement 4: "The Gait of Power"
• Movement 5: "Asking Twilight for Calmness and Power"
• Movement 6: "Don Juan Clowns for Carlos"
• Movement 7: "Last Conversation and Farewell"

Instrumentation[]

• Flute I–III (all double piccolo, two double alto flute)
• E♭ sopranino clarinet
• B♭ soprano clarinet I–VI
• B♭ bass clarinet
• E♭ contra-alto clarinet
• B♭ contrabass clarinet
• Contrabassoon
• Soprano saxophone
• Alto saxophone
• Trumpet I–VI (V–VI double cornet)
• Flugelhorn
• Horn in F I–VI
• Trombone I–VI (trombone V–VI should be bass trombones)
• Euphonium (two players)
• Tuba (2 players)
• String bass (2 players)
• Celesta (and piano)
• Harp
• Timpani
• Percussion I–V, including:
  • Bass drum
  • Bongos
  • Cowbell (5)
  • Crotales
  • Cymbals (1 pair 8" crash, 3 large crash, 4 large suspended)
  • Field drum
  • Gongs (3)
  • Marimba
  • Parsifal bell
  • Snare drum
  • Temple block
  • Tenor drum
  • Timbales
  • Tubular bells
  • Vibraphone
  • Xylophone

See also[]

• List of concert band literature
• List of program music
• Program music

References[]

• Battisti, Frank L. The Winds of Change: The Evolution of the Contemporary American Wind Band/Ensemble and Its Conductor. Galesville, Maryland: Meredith Music Publications. pg. 106., 2002. ISBN 978-0-634-04522-6.