The work features brass instruments as characters in the story. The piece displays the individual characteristics of each brass instrument, for example with the tuba - low range, singing quality of the upper middle range and as a driving rhythmic pulse, the trombone - the use of the slide, the horn – singing quality, stopped sound, and a romp, the trumpets - range, techniques, different mutes, etc. in a fun and enjoyable way.
Brass Instruments Featured
"But yesterday’s concert raised the bar. The symphony’s premier performance of Kursar’s own “The Gingerbread Boy” thrilled the audience members, regardless of their age." See the full review!
The work features brass instruments as characters in the story. The piece displays the individual characteristics of each brass instrument, for example with the tuba - low range, singing quality of the upper middle range and as a driving rhythmic pulse, the trombone - the use of the slide, the horn – singing quality, stopped sound, and a romp, the trumpets - range, techniques, different mutes, etc. in a fun and enjoyable way.
The 1st trumpet player represents the "Rat". The tuba represents the hard working "Construction Workers". The second trumpet represents the "Jazz Musicians" The trombone player represents the "Policemen, Firemen and the Emergency vehicles". The horn represents the "Fox".
Gingerbread Boy In Concert 25’
For Orchestra.
1, 1, 1, 1, - 3, 2, 1, 1, 2 Perc. Strings and narrator
View Score: Gingerbread Boy in Concert
View: Demo Performance
View: Complete Performance
Gingerbread Boy In Concert Orchestra RENTAL: Score and Parts First Performance $400
Gingerbread Boy In Concert Orchestra RENTAL: Score and Parts Additional Performances $150
Gingerbread Boy In Concert Slide Show DVD (Includes a PowerPoint and a movie of the accompanying slides from Richard Egielski’s book “The Gingerbread Boy”) $30
Concert Program Friendly
The "Gingerbread Boy In Concert" is a 25 minute narrated work for orchestra which features the different instruments of the brass family as the characters in the tale. The work has been orchestrated with nearly the same instrumentation as "Peter and The Wolf". Just add a 2nd trumpet and a tuba! "Gingerbread Boy in Concert" will be fine on it's own or along with Prokofiev's work.
The instrumentation is 1 flute, 1 oboe, 1 clarinet, 1 bassoon, 3 horns, 2 trumpets, 1 trombone, 1 tuba, 2 percussionists, violins, violas, cellos, and basses.
Listen to an interview by Rachel Katz of Lawrence Kursar on WWFM "The Classical Network" about "The Gingerbread Boy In Concert"
Slide show available to enhance to your performance.
Since 2013
How it came to be . . .
When I programmed a performance of "Peter and the Wolf" for our concert for young people I asked Richard Egielski, children's book author and illustrator, to narrate and to illustrate our poster for the concert. This is when I first came into to contact with his book the "Gingerbread Boy".
After reading the book I immediately saw the potential for a composition that could you show the unique characteristics of instruments in the brass family.
Unfortunately it wasn't until 4 years later that I listened to an excellent podcast called The Entrepreneurial Musician that recommended a book titled "Deep Work" by Cal Newport. Under Newport's suggestions of creating a work environment without distraction I was able to achieve the completion of "The Gingerbread Boy In Concert"
