[Wind Band Music Commentary] Sasparilla (J. Mackey)

In this post, I would like to introduce 'Sasparilla,' the first original work for wind band by John Mackey!

This is the fifth Mackey work I have covered on my note, following 'Wine-Dark Sea,' 'Undertow,' 'Tsukumogami,' and 'Redline Tango.'

■ Reference Recording

Performed by the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America, conducted by Donald E. Schofield, Jr.

■ About the Work

Original Title: Sasparilla
Japanese Title: Sasparilla
Composer: John Mackey
Duration: Approx. 8 minutes 30 seconds
Difficulty: Hard
Publisher: Osti Music
Year of Composition: 2005
Commission: A consortium of seven universities, including California State University, Stanislaus, organized by Scott Weiss of Lamar University
Premiere: Premiered on April 17, 2005, by the Lamar University Wind Ensemble, conducted by Scott Weiss

The instrumentation is as shown in the capture below.

Compared to 'Redline Tango,' the instrumentation is characterized by the removal of the soprano saxophone, the addition of a contrabass clarinet, and the expansion of the low-frequency range with the tuba part split into two.

Perhaps the most eye-catching aspect of the instrumentation is the use of an accordion. It is treated as an optional instrument, and the score notes that if an accordion is unavailable, it can be substituted with a muted trumpet, but it is definitely worth using an accordion to bring out the atmosphere of the piece.

John Mackey became famous overnight after arranging his own orchestral work 'Redline Tango' for wind band in 2004, which became a huge hit.

It seems that many listeners and wind band professionals wanted to hear more of Mackey's wind band works, so the year after he composed the wind band version of 'Redline Tango,' Scott Weiss, who conducted wind ensembles at universities such as Lamar University in the U.S., took the lead in forming a consortium of seven universities to commission a wind band work from Mackey.

The commissioning party apparently requested that Mackey write something 'new for band,' and in response, Mackey set out to compose with the goal of 'writing something that takes advantage of the wonderful sound that only a concert band can create.'

The result of this was the work I am introducing today, 'Sasparilla.'

What is Sasparilla?

'Sasparilla' is a type of liqueur that was drunk in saloons during the American Old West, and today it refers to a non-alcoholic carbonated beverage called root beer.

Root beer is said to be a major drink in the U.S., but have you ever tried it?
As the name 'Root' implies, it is a drink brewed using the sugars from the roots of various plants.

Perhaps because it uses plant roots, it seems to have a strong, medicinal flavor, and if you search for it online, you will find a series of terrible reviews like 'it tastes like drinking Salonpas' or 'it tastes like Dr. Pepper mixed with toothpaste.' Lol

In Okinawa, the aforementioned 'A&W Root Beer' is relatively easy to obtain and is even served at fast-food restaurants, so if you are curious, please try it when you are in Okinawa.

Incidentally, one of the plants used as an ingredient for root beer is called 'sarsaparilla.'

There are two slang terms for sarsaparilla: 'sarsparilla' and 'sasparilla,' and Mackey named the piece 'Sasparilla' based on this slang.

He chose the latter spelling because he thought it 'looked better when printed.' Lol

As mentioned above, you can still drink root beer today, but as for the "liqueur served in saloons during the American Old West," it is no longer available, so I do not know what it tastes like.

Considering that the drinks served in saloons at the time were mainly "homemade whiskey made from caramel, chewing tobacco, and pure alcohol," "fake whiskey diluted with ammonia, gunpowder, etc.," and "beer stored at room temperature," I suspect it was not very good, but rather what is known as "rotgut."

Musical Structure

The piece begins with an accordion (or muted trumpet) solo reminiscent of the American folk song "Red River Valley."

Since the folk song "Red River Valley" is also used as background music in Westernland at Tokyo Disneyland, I imagine many people feel a sense of Disney when they hear this part.

The harmony played by trombones, euphoniums, and tubas in sharp keys like F-sharp major and B major, accompanied by the accordion, also adds a nice flavor.

After the 9-measure accordion solo introduction ends, the tempo increases, and the music becomes fast-paced.

This section is basically in 4/4 time, with occasional 3/4 or 5/4 measures, and
it does not have the frequent time signature changes seen in many of Mackey's recent popular works or his debut piece, "Redline Tango." The music continues with a slapstick feel as the solo is passed from accordion (trumpet) to clarinet, alto saxophone, and then horn.

About three minutes in, the slapstick music slows down, and the atmosphere shifts to a more relaxed feel, led by a bassoon accompaniment.
I am not sure if this represents a cowboy's horse walking slowly because it is tired, or a tipsy cowboy, but in any case, it is a section where the music feels a bit more laid back.

Here, a long accordion solo is played again. (If an accordion is not available, it is played on the clarinet.)
As the music builds, a drum set joins in, and a stylish tenor saxophone solo (marked "hard blues" in the score) is played.

This part feels like a scene in an American "Western Saloon" where cowboys are chatting while drinking.
To create the saloon atmosphere, there is an instruction at the beginning of the score for the piano to be played as an "out-of-tune (untuned) saloon-style piano."

The fun atmosphere does not last long, and as the music settles, a contrabass clarinet solo marked "lumbering" is played. It is a very impressive section featuring a solo in the lowest register of the contrabass clarinet, which is rarely heard.

Perhaps they drank too much of the cheap saloon liquor and ended up with a headache-inducing hangover.
For any adult who has experienced a terrible hangover, I think this musical expression is something you can really relate to. Haha

When the contrabass clarinet solo ends, the music gradually speeds up and returns to the slapstick feel of the first half of the piece.
The music accelerates toward the climax and ends with great energy, maintaining the slapstick feel.
This part gives the fun impression of a cowboy starting a cheerful day again after having a "hair of the dog" drink.

The way the slapstick drama unfolds in just under nine minutes makes you feel like you are watching an old American cartoon like "Tom and Jerry."

■ Featured CD

Several CDs have been released, but the impression of the piece varies greatly depending on whether an accordion is used as written in the score or if it is substituted with other instruments.

Donald E. Schofield Jr. conducting / The United States Air Force Band of Mid-America, "To the Edge of Space"

This is the CD that contains the performance mentioned in the reference audio at the beginning.
It is a performance that uses the accordion as written in the score, and I think it is the performance that best captures the atmosphere of the piece that Mackey intended to express.
In addition to the YouTube video introduced at the beginning, you can also listen to the performance on Apple Music below.

Kazumasa Watanabe (Conductor) / Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra
Treasure Box Vol. 1 "Bugaku" [KOCD-7001]

This is the first CD in the "Treasure Box" series, which is a self-produced project by members of the TKWO. Although it is currently out of print, it is relatively easy to obtain at a low price on flea market sites because there is a large amount in circulation.
The accordion is not used, and the performance uses the substitute instruments listed in the score.

The performance itself is of higher quality than the US Air Force Band, so I think you can choose which one to listen to according to your purpose: the US Air Force Band if you want to hear a performance using the instruments as written in the score, or the TKWO if you want to hear a high-level performance even if it is not exactly as written.
The "Treasure Box" series ended with the aforementioned Vol. 1, but it is a series I wish had continued, given the excellent selection of music and performances...

You can also listen to the performance on Apple Music below.

Eugene Corporon (Conductor) / North Texas Wind Symphony
"DISCOVERIES" [CD-1005]

A recording by Eugene Corporon and the North Texas Wind Symphony, who actively record new repertoire.
Like the TKWO, the accordion is not used, and the performance uses the substitute instruments listed in the score.

You can listen to the performance on YouTube and Apple Music below.
Note that there is another CD by the same conductor and ensemble (a two-disc set of Mackey's works titled "John Mackey - Composer's Collection"), but the performance is the same, so it is best to choose which CD to listen to based on your preference for the coupled tracks.

■ In Conclusion

This time, I introduced "Sasparilla," John Mackey's first original work for wind band.

Many ensembles perform Mackey's works at concerts, but they often choose major works like "Wine-Dark Sea" or highly difficult, serious pieces that make the audience nervous, so I have the impression that this piece is not performed very often.

I think it would be interesting to include a piece like "Sasparilla," which both performers and the audience can enjoy, in a program as a sort of palate cleanser.
The key is how to arrange the accordion, but since it is designed so that the piece can stand on its own without one, I hope it will be performed more often at concerts and other events!

For commentaries on other John Mackey works, please see the summary below.