John Moody: The Open Road
Instrumentation: piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 2 tenor trombones, bass trombone, tuba, timpani & percussion, piano, and strings
Approximate duration: 10 minutes
The Open Road bridges classical structure and jazz improvisation, drawing inspiration from the vibrant sounds of the 1970s and 80s rather than the traditional swing or bop eras. The piece opens with an extended introduction driven by a rhythmic ostinato in fifths and a powerful bass line. Upon the piano trio’s entry, the piano states the main theme—its repetitive, driving nature channeling the feeling of the open road. This motif builds and expands through rhythmic augmentation, giving way to an improvised piano solo.
While the solo begins with just the trio, the orchestra gradually re-enters, layering in a reharmonized version of the opening bass theme. At the height of this musical dialogue, the orchestra takes the reins, leading to a final restatement of the main theme and a wild, climactic crescendo to the end.
- John Moody
John Moody lives in Spartanburg, SC where he taught AP Music Theory and Music Tech at Spartanburg High School. John received his undergraduate and Master’s degrees from the University of South Carolina where he studied with Fred Teuber and Gordon “Dick” Goodwin, and his Doctorate from Boston University where he studied with Marjorie Merryman and John Harbison. In addition to teaching and composing John is an active jazz pianist in the upstate of South Carolina. He has received several commissions from Wind Ensembles, Chamber Ensembles and Choirs. This piece, The Open Road, was originally written for Wind Ensemble and Jazz Piano and can be found on the recording “The Speed of Heat”, by the United States Air Force Academy Band.