Prelude and Toccata
Commissioned by the VanderCook College Band, Victor Zajec, conductor, to commemorate the 41st Anniversary of the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. It was performed at this convention in 1987, the same week which Claude T. Smith passed away. This is an extremely difficult piece with a bass clarinet cadenza and solos for the alto saxophone and flute. This is one of Claude’s most difficult later works and will be a challenge for outstanding high school, university and professional bands.
Larry VanMersbergen –
I got to play the premiere performance in 1987! I did have the play the cadenza in rehearsal. We were sad to be informed of Claude’s passing just before the performance at Midwest. This is an amazing piece and I was happy to be in the first band to play it.