Instrumentation

• Flute

• Oboe

• Bassoon

• Clarinet 1

• Clarinet 2

• Clarinet 3

• Bass Clarinet

• Alto Saxophone 1

• Alto Saxophone 2

• Tenor Saxophone

• Baritone Saxophone

• Trumpet 1

• Trumpet 2

• Trumpet 3

• F Horn 1

• F Horn 2

• Trombone 1

• Trombone 2

• Bass Trombone

• Euphonium (BC and TC)

• Tuba

• Timpani

• Xylophone

• Marimba

• Piano (optional)

• Slapstick

• Snare Drum

• Bass Drum

Rehearsal Notes

• The Xylophone and marimba part can also be played by a single pianist, and these parts are optional if the ensemble doesn’t have the players (the parts are doubled throughout the song)

• The slapstick parts are of the utmost importance as each of them occurs during a silence for the rest of the ensemble.

Program Notes

Mice in a Maze was inspired by a picture of a mouse standing at the entrance of maze. The mouse enters the maze with some degree of caution before turning a corner and a mouse
trap snaps causing the little mouse to frantically run away. The mouse keeps searching for the small morsels of food hidden within the maze hoping to find a large hoard somewhere along the way. At various points throughout the journey more mousetraps get set off and cause our little explorer to either run around in panic, or move cautiously in fear. Still, the little mouse keeps moving cautiously through the labyrinth in its quest for the food. Does it escape the traps to discover the meal it’s been craving or does it meet it’s end at the end of one of the traps?