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Termite Terrace

for Saxophone Sextet and Wind Ensemble (Grade 4+)

Program Note
“Termite Terrace” was the moniker for the classic Warner Bros. animation studio, responsible for the production of animated film series’ such as “Looney Tunes” and “Merrie Melodies” in the 1930s-50s. The term originally came from the affectionate nickname of the temporary headquarters of the studio on the Warner Bros. lot, which was old, decaying, and far from up-to-code.

During the Golden Age of American Animation, Warner Bros. produced of hundreds of memorable, entertaining – and some absolutely insane – animated films, led by such directors as Tex Avery and Chuck Jones. This piece is an homage to that studio in general, and in particular to who I feel is one of the unsung heroes of American classical music, Carl Stalling.

Stalling composed the music for the bulk of these films, and in fact averaged around one complete score per week, over the course of 22 years. Akin to Stalling’s style, the music in this piece makes liberal use of musical quotation, drawing upon many disparate styles from Wagner to Tin Pan Alley. Some of these quotations were indeed staples of Stalling’s own work.

While there is no specific cartoon attached to this work, I like to imagine that if there were, it might be about the adventures of six mischievous animators (portrayed by frogs, perhaps?) living, working, partying, and quarreling in Termite Terrace, all to the chagrin of their irate and overbearing boss (portrayed by a walrus, or something).

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