Beethoven Machine, The

Percussion and percussion effects are common from composers who are trained percussionists such as Michael Colgrass. The Beethoven Machine uses Sonatina in G treated in various keys, styles, and tonalities. Each time a variation is finished an interjecting, highly mechanical sound is used as the transition. The effect is like someone playing with the sonatina as a child plays with blocks; each time coming up with a new combination. The piece is written to showcase the woodwinds as a "children's orchestra" and the brass as an "adult orchestra". The woodwinds give a playful, youthful sound to the themes while the brass provide a more quintessential Beethovenesque style. A great piece to add some high school players to the junior high concert.