Michael Oare

This piece for beginning players opens with a majestic fanfare followed by a tuneful march melody. Even at this easy level, Michael has built in enough scoring variety and contrasts to keep every member of the band interested and engaged.

Michael Oare’s Escapade is a mischievous and fun-filled romp for beginning players. Using creative effects including trombone glisses, slide whistles, mouthpiece screeches, and dissonant “crunches,” your players will have blast with this, and the audience will too!

Jefferson Forest Sketches is a programmatic work depicting the beauty and grandeur of the Jefferson National Forest along the Appalachian Mountains. From dawn breaking over the mountains, to breathtaking panoramas, to a seemingly endless expanse of wilderness, composer Michael Oare takes us through a variety of scenes and moods. The piece concludes with a lively tribute to the reels and dance tunes common to the area in the colonial period. Dur: 3:15

Commissioned by the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association to commemorate its 75th anniversary, Presidential Suite recognizes the rich historical heritage of Virginia, particularly as the birthplace of eight United States presidents. Using a suite format, the work focuses on three of the founding fathers. The first movement, Mount Vernon, is a serene musical impression of the home of George Washington. Monticello is the second movement and portrays the stately style of music typical of Thomas Jefferson’s time. The suite concludes with Montpelier, the home of James Madison, and uses bold and majestic motifs to portray the broad and magnificent landscape of Madison’s estate. Dur: c 5:30