Blaha-Night Watch, The (SP)-2B/2V/C/2X/5M/5T/P

The Night Watch is a Blaha's exploration of light and dark. It is inspired in part by Rembrandt's painting of the same name that depicts a night scene of civic guards in Amsterdam. The chiaroscuro effect of the painting can be interpreted in the light and dark tonal relationships the Night Watch offers.

Number of Players: 12
Difficulty: Grade 5
Instrumentation:

Player I: Xylophone 1, Snare Drum, Bubble Wrap

Player II: Xylophone 2, Bells, Bongos, Anvil, Claves, Piccolo Snare Drum, Bubble Wrap

Player III: Vibraphone 1, Maracas

Player IV: Vibraphone 2, 5 Temple Blocks, Ratchet

Player V: Marimba 1 (4.6 octave), Metal Wind Chimes

Player VI: Marimba 2 (4.6 octave), 2 Woodblocks

Player VII: Marimba 3 (5 octave), Sand Blocks

Player VIII: Marimba 4 (4.3 octave), Crotales, Guiro, Large Suspended Cymbal

Player IX: Marimba 5 (4.3 octave), Bass Drum*, Snare Drum, 2 Cowbells, 2 Suspended Cymbals

Player X: Bells, Bass Drum*, Crash Cymbals*, Large Suspended Cymbal, Triangle, Hi-Hat, Snare Drum, Gong, Sleigh Bells, Cowbell

Player XI: Chimes, Snare Drum, Crash Cymbals*, Triangle, Tambourine, Small Suspended Cymbal, 4 Tom-Toms, China Cymbal, Plastic Grocery Sacks, Slapstick, Vibraslap, Castanets, Tam-Tam

Player XII: 5 Timpani, Medium Suspended Cymbal, Plastic Grocery Sacks

*May be shared between players

Joseph Blaha is currently an assistant professor of music and director of bands at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. In 1983, he enrolled as a doctoral student in composition at the University of Oklahoma and studied with Michael Hennagin earning a DMA in 1991.