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The Gunness Mystery, Op. 164, No. 2 (2025)

For Concert Band

Score Video:

Perusal Score:

Duration: 7'

Instrumentation:

  • Piccolo
  • Flute 1
  • Flute 2
  • Oboe
  • Bassoon
  • Eb Clarinet
  • Bb Clarinet 1
  • Bb Clarinet 2
  • Bb Clarinet 3
  • Alto Clarinet
  • Bass Clarinet
  • Alto Saxophone 1
  • Alto Saxophone 2
  • Tenor Saxophone
  • Baritone Saxophone
  • Bb Trumpet 1 (cup mute; one doubles Flugelhorn)
  • Bb Trumpet 2 (cup mute)
  • Bb Trumpet 3 (cup mute)
  • F Horn 1
  • F Horn 2
  • F Horn 3
  • F Horn 4
  • Trombone 1
  • Trombone 2
  • Bass Trombone
  • Euphonium
  • Tuba
  • Timpani
  • Mallet Percussion (Glockenspiel, Chimes, Xylophone)
  • Percussion 1 (2 players: Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Suspended Cymbal, Tambourine)
  • Percussion 2 (2 players: Crash Cymbals, Suspended Cymbal, Triangle)

Program Notes:

In 2020, La Porte County Historian Bruce Johnson released "The Gunness Mystery", a documentary film about La Porte serial killer Belle Gunness. He also composed a piano soundtrack for the film. A few years ago, he approached me about orchestrating the music for a local ensemble, and I immediately thought of Chuck Steck and the La Porte City Band. This medley incorporates all of the main cues from the film - in order, Love Theme, Moving to La Porte, Swedish Lullaby, McClung Road Rag, and Murder Theme, as well as bits of incidental music.