Whoopee In D

An early (1938) non-spatial work by Henry Brant, whose Ice Field won the Pulitzer Prize for Music, Whoopee in D is scored for a modestlysized orchestra of single winds, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, trombone, piano, percussion (1 player) and strings. The piece satirizes the standard light opera/musical comedy type of overture. The composer describes it as “the prelude to a comic-strip opera as revealed in a nightmare.” In a brief and rollicking four minutes, Brant takes a fragment of Bach’s accompanying melody from the choral prelude Wachet auf! (also familiar from its use in Cantata No. 140) and subjects it to several clever parody-variations in polka, rumba and march style. A tour de force for a chamber orchestra, Whoopee in D has always been a great audience pleaser. Orchestral parts are available on rental.