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The Gunness Mystery, Op. 164, No. 3 (2025)

For Orchestra

Score Video:

Perusal Score:

Duration: 7'

Instrumentation:

  • Piccolo
  • Flute 1
  • Flute 2
  • Oboe 1
  • Oboe 2
  • English Horn
  • Bb Clarinet 1
  • Bb Clarinet 2
  • Bass Clarinet
  • Bassoon 1
  • Bassoon 2
  • Contrabassoon
  • F Horn 1
  • F Horn 2
  • F Horn 3
  • F Horn 4
  • Bb Trumpet/Flugelhorn 1 (cup mute)
  • Bb Trumpet 2 (cup mute)
  • Bb Trumpet 3 (cup mute)
  • Trombone 1
  • Trombone 2
  • Bass Trombone
  • Tuba
  • Timpani
  • Percussion 1 (Glockenspiel, Chimes, Xylophone)
  • Percussion 2 (Snare Drum, Crash Cymbals, Tambourine, Bass Drum)
  • Percussion 3 (Crash Cymbals, Bass Drum, Triangle)
  • Percussion 4 (Suspended Cymbal, Crash Cymbal)
  • Harp
  • Violin 1
  • Violin 2
  • Viola
  • Cello
  • Bass

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 suggested reaching out to the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra. 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.