Memorial Suite for Youth Wind Ensemble and Chorus

This is the first and second movement of a Memorial suite that was commissioned for a youth ensemble and chorus. The piece is for a 2007 Memorial Day concert.
The players and singers aren't very strong musicians so I had to compose in a way that was simple but interesting for the ensemble as a whole. There is a third and final movement to come. It will be identical to the first movment with the chorus singing a different text.

The instrumentation:

Flutes, Oboes, Clarinets, Bassoon, alto/tenor/bari Saxaphones, trumpets, tombone, tuba and percussion.

The chorus is an SAT chorus with a Baritone solo.

1st Movement - After the wind ensemble intro the Baritone enters with chorus singing the text for the poem titled "The Memorial".

We tried,we tried,Oh God we tried
So we could be here too
And walk around remembering
And look for names we knew
Our lives were lost so far away
Upon a distant shore
But we are here in memory
As you read our names once more
Remember us,Remember us
Although we're truly gone
Remember us,as we once were
And not just names in stone.

2nd Movement - Features the Wind ensemble paying a March with the chorus eventually entering singing "Ah". I used a simple countrapuntal technique in with the choral "Ahs". Its kind of hard to hear, though.

As a way to conserve time and energy, the eventual thrid movement will be identical to the first with some minor changes. The chorus will be singing the words from the Poem "In Flanders Field".

Here's the link:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/song...songID=4437615

I think that this particular piece would go well in the Major works section, but I'm not a Reviewer or anything so that's up to them.


I think Majesty, that this is a really good accomplishment you have here. I can tell by listening that the piece isn't overly demanding of skill for any section. Although to me it seems like you managed to pull off making it interesting for the listener. Kudos on that

As for the piece itself, I personally loved the section that started around 3:00, nicely done. I sort of found that this is a fairly typical Memorial piece (I mean that in a good way) But it has alot of your style in it, which I partly think is an amazing style in itself, especially your use of the percussion, Kudos on that as well.

I will anxiously await the third movement

All the Best

Will

No score - no way to review.

Originally Posted by leightwing

No score - no way to review.

I know. I'm still waiting for the band director to give me feedback as to what might cause difficulties for some of the begining students. Once, I hear back from her I will add the final movment and will most likely post a score. I guess I should have just waited for her response before posting.

Originally Posted by Will Kirk

I think that this particular piece would go well in the Major works section, but I'm not a Reviewer or anything so that's up to them.


I think Majesty, that this is a really good accomplishment you have here. I can tell by listening that the piece isn't overly demanding of skill for any section. Although to me it seems like you managed to pull off making it interesting for the listener. Kudos on that

As for the piece itself, I personally loved the section that started around 3:00, nicely done. I sort of found that this is a fairly typical Memorial piece (I mean that in a good way) But it has alot of your style in it, which I partly think is an amazing style in itself, especially your use of the percussion, Kudos on that as well.

I will anxiously await the third movement

All the Best

Will

Thanks for your nice comments. I don't think you will be wowed by the third movment. Like I said, it will basically be the first moevment with possible minor changes to fit the new text.

I get what you are saying by typical. I was trying to keep the students and the audience in mind. As the performance will take place in a small town in Upstate N.Y (a far cry from where I am, lol). But, at the same time I wanted to give them something honorable without asking too much on their ears.

You said you liked the section around 3:00. Did you mean the start of the second movement of somewhere before then?

Originally Posted by Majesty

Thanks for your nice comments. I don't think you will be wowed by the third movment. Like I said, it will basically be the first moevment with possible minor changes to fit the new text.

I get what you are saying by typical. I was trying to keep the students and the audience in mind. As the performance will take place in a small town in Upstate N.Y (a far cry from where I am, lol). But, at the same time I wanted to give them something honorable without asking too much on their ears.

You said you liked the section around 3:00. Did you mean the start of the second movement of somewhere before then?

the start of the second movement is what caught my ear mostly

Another nice one and I understand about writing for less skilled resources (reminding me of my early excursions into orchestrating at school not to mention the local outfit).

I edited a comment referring to the lack of moments of silence but on listening again, ok, the variations in texture will be more prominent in a live performance.

Expansive, engaging. Doesn't seem atonal or experimental tho!
M

So, not too long ago the USA celebrated Memorial Day holiday and I was reminded about this piece that I wrote a year ago.
I have not yet received a recording of the performance but I decided to rework the mp3 and post a choral score. Just as a reminder, this piece was composed for a middle school band and chorus in UpState New York. The piece also inculdes a Baritone Solo which was performed by a faculty member.

I'll probably go back and do some more reworking of the mp3. But in the meanwhile...

SoundClick artist: Hansani Archibald - Young composer of Soulful Classical Music