Hymn-Fantasia on “Lyra Davidica”

(opt parts and percussion)

The score is set up various woodwinds to supplement the brass arrangement including: “God Of Our Fathers,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and ending with “America.” It captures all the grandeur and majesty one would expect in an arrangement such as this.

A brass sextet with opt. parts for flugelhorn and BHTC. The beginning presents a vigorous fanfare where it settles down into solemn rendition of “We’ve A Story To Tell To The Nations.” After a modulation the piece continues with “I Love To Tell The Story” with more open scoring passing the tune around amongst the parts. Another modulation, another tune- this time “Send The Light” in a march style giving purpose. Another modulation leading into “Since I Have Been Redeemed” in the upper parts, only to be followed with the theme in the lower voices. Then after a sequence of cascading entrance the piece concludes on a resounding sense of resolve.

Scored for various mallet instruments as well as general percussion. The piece begins with tutti percusion overlayed with vocal narrations giving a dramatic effect. The piece then explodes with a mallet ostinato and then joined with tutti mallets on the theme. Next, after a ritardando, the mallets present a calm thematic rendition supported by gentle effects of the other percussion. It builds to a strong climax and the ostinato returns with the theme to follow. The final section uses imitative devices with the general percussion becoming more active. Until it all leads up to a stirring conclusion.

A mini suite that is based on 1) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and, 2) “We Gather Together” an Austrian carol from the 17th century.The score is solid in part management but adds motifs of punctuation to add flavor. There are optional percussion parts for those who want to add more color to the performance.