This Is My Father’s World

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.

This piece starts out in a plaintive style in the upper brass and then is responded in like kind by the lower brass. The second section transposes up a step and with more contrapuntal design giving more tension only to settle down to a sense of consolation.

The introduction of this brass sextet (3 Trp., 3 Trom.) begins with strong choral movement and then settles into repose. The first presentation of the tune is in the trombones with a subtle counterline in the trumpets which then opens up to a stronger movement with the melody in the trumpet. The tune then reverts back to the trombones and then transitions to a move active support pattern in the trombones with a solo in the second trumpet. The final section gives way to a powerful presentation of the tune and immediately settles into a sensitive climate, much like the beginning. After a DC the piece ends with the strong motifs of the introduction giving a sense of finality. (Opt Horn for 1st Trom.)

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.