Caliban’s Dream

Emily Crocker (arr. John Ivor Holland)

Three Trombones and Concert Band

In William Shakespeare's play The Tempest, Caliban is a character who is half human and half monster. In spite of his wild personality he nonetheless delivers the beautiful lines found in this text (opening with 'Be not afeared, the isle is full of noises') as if to show that all creatures are capable of knowing and expressing beauty. This arrangement for three trombones and concert band reflects the original setting by Emily Crocker for male voices and piano; the accompaniment is very rhythmic, contrasting with the expressive, mysterious vocal lines. The mallet percussion part calls for crotales to create extra magic, but if these are not available, glockenspiel (bells) can be used instead, played up an octave where possible. Created as part of an ongoing project to bring more music by women composers into the worldwide concert band repertoire.