Phobia

Grade 2.5 - 4:48

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Instrumentation

  • Flute

  • Oboe

  • Bassoon

  • Clarinet 1

  • Clarinet 2

  • Bass Clarinet

  • Alto Saxophone 1

  • Alto Saxophone 2

  • Tenor Saxophone

  • Baritone Saxophone

  • Trumpet 1

  • Trumpet 2

  • F Horn

  • Trombone

  • Euphonium (BC and TC)

  • Tuba

  • Timpani

  • Mallets

  • Snare Drum

  • Bass Drum

  • Triangle

  • Toms

  • Temple Blocks

  • Gong

  • Crash Cymbals



Rehearsal Notes

  • The opening Vibraphone lick is best performed with medium mallets. If a Vibraphone is un-available, the glissando can be performed on a piano by opening the lid and strumming the strings like a harp with the sustain pedal held down.

  • The “Fear of the Dark” section needs to be all about control, no section can overplay as it disrupts the effects of the Unison Quarter notes in measures 21 and 31.

  • The “Fear of Being Hunted” section has layered entrances, the focus should turn to the newest entrance in each case, with the previously entered parts taking a back seat to the new melodies.

  • The Gong part at measure 68 can either be dropped in a vat of water (creating a halting sound effect) or just let it ring.

  • In the “Fear of Drowning” section, the brass needs to be careful to not overpower the woodwinds at the beginning and ends of their phrases.

  • At “Fear of Falling” all of the trilling instruments should stagger breathe. They should also try to sneak breaths while the brass are playing if possible.


Program Notes

Phobia is born from a dream, more specifically, a nightmare. As the person lies down to sleep and drifts off (symbolized by the solo vibraphone at the beginning of the song) they
drift into a restless sleep, worrying about their fears (played by the low brass). We begin with the fear of the dark, where the person tosses and turns and gets increasingly restless due to the figures they think they see in the shadows (played by the trumpets and woodwinds). After a great deal of tossing and turning, their nightmare takes off, as they find themselves being chased by a faceless thing. They think they’ve escaped but find themselves facing the fear of being hunted by whatever is following them. After leaping off a ledge to escape the thing, the nightmare continues as they plunge beneath the water and need to face their fear of drowning in the sweeping waves. After surviving the rapids, they find themselves once again being chased by the “thing” before falling off a cliff and facing their fear of falling. As they fall seemingly forever, they see the face of rocks they are about to hit, and with tears in their eyes and sweat pouring from their forehead, the person
awakes bolt upright in their bed, having awoken just moments before crashing into the rocks below.