Toboggan Ride

A piercing dissonance - created by trumpets; wildly trilling clarinets; and splashing, rolling cymbals - launches our toboggan on its fun-filled ride. Speeding into its first turn, the toboggan theme is stated by low clarinets in unison. Seconds later, the theme is restated by all woodwinds, spread across two octaves. An oboe solo, supported by French horns and saxes, accompanies the toboggan as it glides through a clearing between trees. All woodwinds pick up the oboe's message and complete the motif in a colorfully orchestrated section. The low clarinets are reintroduced to close off the first theme. Orchestrating the opening dissonance a fourth higher, our toboggan races down a second slope and into the second theme. Constant shifting of orchestral timbres helps conjure up images of a happy, carefree winter setting. The development of our second theme places our toboggan atop another hill. Recalling the opening dissonance and original key, the toboggan theme follows once again in low clarinets. Sixteen measures later, the opening section is restated but newly orchestrated. An abrupt eighth-note figure played by full ensemble brings our toboggan face-to-face with a snowbank, and the end of the ride.