List of Titles for the Literature Study

Here’s my list of ten works for wind band that I’ve decided to include in this literature study. See the last post for criteria used for selection. Of course, there are other pieces that could be included, but, in the words of Katsumoto, “we have made a good start.”

After The Thunderer, Ira Hearshen
Blue Shades, Frank Ticheli
Fantasies on a Theme By Haydn, Norman Dello Joio
Fascinating Ribbons, Joan Tower
Huntingtower, Ottorino Respighi
Sea Songs, Thomas Knox
Southern Harmony, Donald Grantham
Symphony for Band, Donald E. McGinnis
Theme and Fantasia, Armand Russell
Watchman, Tell us of the Night, Mark Camphouse

I listened to as many as I had recordings and discovered other recordings on iTunes. At this point I have no scores to any of the pieces. Here’s what I’ve discovered so far:

After the Thunderer was composed as an adagio in a similar vein to the adagietto in Mahler’s Third Symphony. May conductors first play Sousa’s The Thunderer and then Hearshen’s piece so that audiences can discover his compositional technique. I viewed a performance of this on YouTube and had an immediate attraction to the piece. At first listen the work would be attractive to our musicians and accessible to our audience.

Blue Shades is a very jazzy/bluesy piece in ABA form. There is a constant rhythmic drive in the A sections with several intricate rhythms in the low woodwinds. It might be technically too difficult for 4 rehearsals. But, the work has become a standard with university and military ensembles, and some advanced high school bands have also performed it. There is an online score viewable for this piece.

Fantasies on a Theme by Haydn is a theme with three variation/fantasies by Norman Dello Joio. Having just performed his Variants on a Mediaeval Tune this fall, which many of the musicians really liked, this piece would seem a winner for us. A friend recommended this piece, since we both have a growing admiration for Dello Joio’s compositions.

Fascinating Ribbons is a short fanfare-like composition. I see this piece programmed a lot, so included it on our list. Joan Tower is a well-known composer in the orchestral world. It’s nice to have a piece by her in the wind band world, too.

Huntingtower was written in the 1930s just before the passing of Respighi, the famed composer of The Pines of Rome. Sometimes the word “Ballad” is used in the title on programs. I’ve never seen a score to the piece, but have listened a few times. The work is intriguing and seems to have compositional depth. I’ll need more hearings to evaluate the piece. Perhaps this is an indication of the piece’s worth, but maybe also that it’s too difficulty for 4 rehearsals. There’s a wonderful recording by Col. Lowell Graham and the USAF Band on the album Songs of the Earth.

Sea Songs is completely unknown to me, except by title. I believe that Knox was an arranged for the Marine Band, and others speak well of his compositions. At this point, I’ve never heard the piece, so I’ll have to place this late in the study to give time to procure a score and recording.

Southern Harmony is well-known to many band directors. The work has 4 movements based on the shaped-note hymnbook “Southern Harmony.” The open and peculiar harmonies sound like classic “fa-so-la” used by singing teachers like William Billings. There are pockets of fasola in the mid-south yet today. Donald Grantham has set 4 tunes in an extended suite. The fourth movement sounds technically difficult, while the first three sound very accessible. This piece rents for $300, although the second movement, “Wondrous Love,” is available separately for $150. A complete score sells for $55.

Symphony for Band, was composed in the 1950s by my former college band director Donald E. McGinnis, and is published by Barnhouse. We could never get him to program the piece, although I think later bands may have. The work uses set theory and serial composition technique in its three movements. The symphony is not as difficult as other similar works, so maybe we can honor Dr. McGinnis with a performance. I don’t have a recording or score, so this one will have to fall later in the study.

Theme and Fantasia is another set of variations, this one using serial technique. The composer, Armand Russell, studied at Eastman with Howard Hanson and others, and taught composition at the University of Hawaii. While working on my doctorate the wind ensemble performed this piece, and I wish I had paid better attention. It comes highly recommended by Dr. Wayne Gorder and has a difficulty level of IV, so, accessible to musicians and audience alike. Again, will have to be a late study.

Watchman, Tell Us Of The Night. IMO this is the best piece that I have heard by Mark Camphouse. It is introspective and weighty. He makes good use of woodwind timbres. The chorale tune to "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come" occurs late in the work. This piece will come early in the lit study. It’s definitely accessible to the musicians, and maybe the audience, too. We’ll have to determine whether it’s too complicated for 4 rehearsals.

So, we’ll tackle Blue Shades first because we can view a score when listening to our recordings. I’ll report on my study next week.