From A Horn Player's Perspective: Thoughts on Fiesta Del Pacifico by Roger Nixon

Being born and raised in the California towns of Tulare and Modesto, composer, musician and music educator Roger Nixon (1921-2009) was influenced by the rhythms and dances of the early settlers of his home state. This influence played prominent in his works and among those works is a piece called Fiesta del Pacifico. This piece is named after one of the several summer festivals that California holds annually to celebrate the state's Spanish heritage. Held in San Diego, Fiesta del Pacifico lasts for 12 days and it celebrates the early Spanish settlers of the state by featuring plays, parades, street dances and rodeos.

As a musical composition for wind ensemble/concert band, Fiesta del Pacifico is a good piece for an advanced high school or college band because of it's technical and rhythmic aspects. It must be noted that not only are there rhythmic challenges in the prominent time signature of 3/4, there are also meter changes as it occasionally goes to 5/8, 2/4, 8/8, 7/8, 6/8, 4/4 temporarily and unexpectedly throughout. A few other technical aspects to note include stopped horn figures in the french horn parts, grace notes and sixteenth notes figures that call for precision in the sections and the band itself. The tempo is mostly a spirited Allegro with a metronome marking of quarter note equals 138 with a brief waltz like section in the middle of it.

I would describe Fiesta del Pacifico as a piece that is colorful, rhythmic, high energy, fun and very busy. It is also a piece that one may think of as an old gem.

Fiesta del Pacifico By Roger Nixon (1921-). Full Score. Boosey & Hawkes Concert Band. 76 pages. Boosey & Hawkes #M051634026. Published by Boosey & Hawkes (HL.48006472) ...more info