Ian Deterling

Dark Fanfare Bass Clarinet Octet

Dark Fanfare, Op. 26 for trombone octet is a haunting and powerful work that plunges the listener into a sound world of ominous grandeur and surreal unease. Inspired by the 1961 cinematic adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Pit and the Pendulum, this composition evokes the film’s unsettling atmosphere and brooding tension through towering melodies, dissonant cluster chords, and gloomy harmonic progressions.

Dark Fanfare, Op. 26 (2024)

  • Instrumentation: bass clarinet octet (bass clarinet 8 is also available for contrabass clarinet)

  • Duration: about 4 minutes

  • Key Signature: concert A-minor

    • This is a pre-order for Dark Fanfare, Op. 26. By purchasing now for $25 (regular price $30), you will automatically receive the full score and parts via email on July 28, 2025, following the piece’s premiere on July 27, 2025.

Score/Parts PDF Previews

Program Notes

  • Commissioned by Benjamin Yates in honor of Mr. Nyline for the 2025 Luther College Low Brass Reunion.

  • Dark Fanfare, Op. 26 for trombone octet is a haunting and powerful work that plunges the listener into a sound world of ominous grandeur and surreal unease. Inspired by the 1961 cinematic adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Pit and the Pendulum, directed by Roger Corman and starring Vincent Price, this composition evokes the film’s unsettling atmosphere and brooding tension through towering melodies, dissonant cluster chords, and gloomy harmonic progressions.

  • Though cast in the form of a fanfare, this work subverts traditional expectations of the genre. Instead of a jubilant proclamation, the music delivers an ominous announcement—a harbinger of looming danger rather than a triumphant declaration. Set in post-Inquisition Spain, the film’s influences are subtly woven throughout the piece, anchoring the work in its historical and cultural context while distorting those traditions through a lens of horror and suspense. The resulting textures feel familiar yet unsettling, much like the ancient castle and dusty corridors in the film. A contrasting middle section brings forth serene melodies, accompanied by warm harmonies that offer a fleeting sense of hopefulness.

  • Ultimately, Dark Fanfare, Op. 26 is a study in contrasts: darkness and grandeur, fear and serenity, dread and beauty. It invites the audience not only to listen, but to inhabit its world—a place where fear takes shape in sound, and every moment resonates with the swing of a pendulum.

What do I get when I order Dark Fanfare, Op. 26?

  • You will receive the score and a complete set of parts as individual PDF files.

  • Once your order has been processed, you’ll be emailed a link where you can download the sheet music.

  • When you click on the link to download your music, you’ll be brought to the download page (see image)

Download page for Dark Fanfare, Op. 26

  • Note that the score and parts are separated into different PDF files.

  • You can download everything (‘Download All’ button at the bottom), save the files to Dropbox, or download selected score/parts individually.

  • My website is set to five download attempts (see ‘5 downloads remaining’ in the image). If an error occurs or if you need additional download attempts, contact me here and I’ll reset the limit for you.