Tarantula

Tarantula was written by Andrew Boysen, Jr. (see below) in 2020. It is subtitled “Introduction and Tarantella”.

From the composer:

“Tarantula was commissioned by the South Carolina Band Director’s Association for the 2020 South Carolina All-State Band. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the premiere was delayed and I was unable to present the first performance of the piece with the talented students who made the band that year.

The idea for Tarantula grew out of my desire to try writing a tarantella, a traditional Italian dance that is normally characterized by a fast tempo, 6/8 meter, and the use of tambourines and guitar or mandolin. The form has appeared in works of composers throughout the history of Western art music, but supposedly originated in the frantic and feverish dances of victims of the bite of the Lycosa tarantula spider.

The resultant dance would apparently last for extraordinarily long periods of time until the dancer would collapse from exhaustion.

My piece begins with an optional (but highly preferred) classical guitar solo that introduces the two main themes for the work at a slow tempo and in reverse order, gradually building to the climactic moment of the spider’s bite. Immediately, the tempo increases substantially as the victim begins to dance the tarantella. Although the basic structure of the piece is a traditional sonata form, there is a constant sense of increasing intensity and anxiety through the work, until the coda finally accelerates to a frenzied conclusion.”

Composer Dr. Andrew Boysen, Jr. (b. 1968) is presently a professor in the music department at the University of New Hampshire, where he conducts the wind symphony and teaches conducting and composition. Under his leadership, the UNH wind symphony has released seven recordings and been invited to perform at regional conventions of the College Band Directors National Association and National Association for Music Education. Previously, Boysen taught at Indiana State University and Cary-Grove (IL) High School, and was the music director and conductor of the Deerfield Community Concert Band. He remains active as a guest conductor and clinician, appearing with high school, university, and festival ensembles around the world.

Boysen earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting at the Eastman School of Music, where he served as conductor of the Eastman Wind Orchestra and assistant conductor of the Eastman Wind Ensemble. He received his Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting from Northwestern University in 1993 and his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Music Composition from the University of Iowa in 1991.

He maintains an active schedule as a composer, receiving commissions from festival, university, and high school concert bands across the United States. Boysen won the International Horn Society Composition Contest in 2000, the University of Iowa Honors Composition Prize in 1991 and has twice won the Claude T. Smith Memorial Band Composition Contest, in 1991 and 1994. Boysen has several published works with the Neil A. Kjos Music Company, Wingert-Jones Music, Alfred Music, Masters Music, and C. Alan Publications, including pieces for band, orchestra, clarinet and piano, and brass choir. Recordings of his music appear on the Sony, R-Kal, Mark, St. Olaf and Elf labels.

The music for Tarantula was purchased for The Gateway Concert Band by

Phil and Debbie Bondurant.