Composed in 1957, Symphonic Songs for Band is one of Robert Russell Bennett's most famous compositions for wind band. The work was commissioned for the National Intercollegiate Band by Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, national honorary band fraternity and sorority, as part of the two organizations' commissioning program.[1] Since its premiere, it has become among the most frequently performed works in the wind band repertoire.[2] It is considered to be a cornerstone of the band literature.[3]
Symphonic Songs is a suite of three movements: Serenade, Spiritual, and Celebration. It was premiered in the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on August 24, 1957, by the National Intercollegiate Band under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel William F. Santelmann, retired director of the United States Marine Band.[4][5] The band comprised 112 musicians from Utah, Florida, Maryland, Colorado, Ohio, Texas, Indiana, and New Mexico.[5]
Robert Russell Bennett, Symphonic Songs for Band (1957)
Symphonic Songs are as much a suite of dances or scenes as songs, deriving their name from the tendency of the principal parts to sing out a fairly diatonic tune against whatever rhythm develops in the middle instruments. The Serenade has the feeling of strumming, from which the title is obtained, otherwise it bears little resemblance to the serenades of Mozart. The Spiritual may possibly strike the listener as being unsophisticated enough to justify its title, but in performance this movement sounds far simpler than it is. The Celebration recalls an old-time county fair with cheering throngs (in the woodwinds), a circus act or two, and the inevitable mule race.
— Robert Russell Bennett, program note for Symphonic Songs, Goldman Band 27 July 1958 performance
I. SerenadeEdit
The work opens in 3/8 with a strong hemiola that gives the listener the impression that the work is in 3/4, with two written 3/8 measures to each perceived 3/4 measure. The hemiola abates somewhat when the main melody begins, but is present until the end of the movement. Clarinet, euphonium, trumpet, and trombone are all featured in solos.[7]
II. SpiritualEdit
The Spiritual is in A–B–A form with a blues-inspired background over which the euphonium, cornet, horn choir, English horn, flute, and piccolo solo. The movement ends with a split-third chord, resulting in a simultaneous major and minor tonality.[7]
III. CelebrationEdit
The work ends with a bright celebration reminiscent of a country fair. Instruments evoke the sounds of the calliope and birdsong, and woodwinds act as the "cheering throngs" at a mule race. The movement ends with a "final thrust of full forces on a suspended high chord" with a "stinger" at the end.[7]
^Kappa Kappa Psi (2011). "The Fraternity and Sorority Commissioning Program". In Smith, Nick (ed.). (PDF). Stillwater, OK: Kappa Kappa Psi/Tau Beta Sigma. p. 53. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-01-02.
^Hawkins, Roy Benton (August 1989). "A Television Pioneer, An Elder Statesman (1952–1981)". The Life and Work of Robert Russell Bennett(PDF) (Ph.D. diss.). Lubbock: Texas Tech University. pp. 134–5.
^Archer, Kimberly (2009). "Ten Works All Band Conductors at All Levels Should Study". In Camphouse, Mark (ed.). Composers on Composing for Band. Vol. 4. Chicago: GIA Publications. pp. 23–6. ISBN978-1-57999-739-7.
^"Collegiate Band Plans Tabernacle Concert Saturday". Deseret News and Salt Lake Telegram. Salt Lake City. August 15, 1957. p. B13. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
^ ab"Collegiate Band To Give Concert Aug. 24 In S. L." Deseret News and Salt Lake Telegram. Salt Lake City. August 23, 1957. p. A9. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
^Bennett, Robert Russell (2007) [Composed 1957]. Ferencz, George (ed.). Symphonic Songs for Band (Musical score) (Deluxe ed.). Milwaukee: Hal Leonard.
^ abcWinds of Change (Media notes). Northwestern University Symphonic Wind Ensemble; John P. Paynter, conductor. Recorded Anthology of American Music. 1997 [Recorded 1977]. 80211.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
October 19, 2023
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Composed in 1957 Symphonic Songs for Band is one of Robert Russell Bennett s most famous compositions for wind band The work was commissioned for the National Intercollegiate Band by Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma national honorary band fraternity and sorority as part of the two organizations commissioning program 1 Since its premiere it has become among the most frequently performed works in the wind band repertoire 2 It is considered to be a cornerstone of the band literature 3 Symphonic Songs is a suite of three movements Serenade Spiritual and Celebration It was premiered in the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on August 24 1957 by the National Intercollegiate Band under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel William F Santelmann retired director of the United States Marine Band 4 5 The band comprised 112 musicians from Utah Florida Maryland Colorado Ohio Texas Indiana and New Mexico 5 Robert Russell Bennett Symphonic Songs for Band 1957 source source Excerpt from movement 1 of Symphonic Songs for Band performed by the Eastman Wind Ensemble with Frederick Fennell Problems playing this file See media help Contents 1 Instrumentation 2 Structure 2 1 I Serenade 2 2 II Spiritual 2 3 III Celebration 3 See also 4 ReferencesInstrumentation EditSymphonic Songs is scored for piccolo flutes 1 2 oboe 1 oboe 2 dbl Eng horn bassoons 1 2 E clarinet Solo 1st 2nd 3rd B clarinets E alto clarinet B bass clarinet E alto saxophones 1 2 B tenor saxophone E baritone saxophone B trumpets 1 2 Solo 1st 2nd 3rd B cornets F horns 1 2 3 4 trombones 1 2 3 euphonium tuba string bass drums and timpani 6 Structure EditSymphonic Songs are as much a suite of dances or scenes as songs deriving their name from the tendency of the principal parts to sing out a fairly diatonic tune against whatever rhythm develops in the middle instruments The Serenade has the feeling of strumming from which the title is obtained otherwise it bears little resemblance to the serenades of Mozart The Spiritual may possibly strike the listener as being unsophisticated enough to justify its title but in performance this movement sounds far simpler than it is The Celebration recalls an old time county fair with cheering throngs in the woodwinds a circus act or two and the inevitable mule race Robert Russell Bennett program note for Symphonic Songs Goldman Band 27 July 1958 performance I Serenade Edit The work opens in 3 8 with a strong hemiola that gives the listener the impression that the work is in 3 4 with two written 3 8 measures to each perceived 3 4 measure The hemiola abates somewhat when the main melody begins but is present until the end of the movement Clarinet euphonium trumpet and trombone are all featured in solos 7 II Spiritual Edit The Spiritual is in A B A form with a blues inspired background over which the euphonium cornet horn choir English horn flute and piccolo solo The movement ends with a split third chord resulting in a simultaneous major and minor tonality 7 III Celebration Edit The work ends with a bright celebration reminiscent of a country fair Instruments evoke the sounds of the calliope and birdsong and woodwinds act as the cheering throngs at a mule race The movement ends with a final thrust of full forces on a suspended high chord with a stinger at the end 7 See also EditList of concert band literature List of works commissioned by Kappa Kappa Psi or Tau Beta SigmaReferences Edit Kappa Kappa Psi 2011 The Fraternity and Sorority Commissioning Program In Smith Nick ed Guide to Membership for the 2011 2013 Biennium PDF Stillwater OK Kappa Kappa Psi Tau Beta Sigma p 53 Archived from the original PDF on 2013 01 02 Hawkins Roy Benton August 1989 A Television Pioneer An Elder Statesman 1952 1981 The Life and Work of Robert Russell Bennett PDF Ph D diss Lubbock Texas Tech University pp 134 5 Archer Kimberly 2009 Ten Works All Band Conductors at All Levels Should Study In Camphouse Mark ed Composers on Composing for Band Vol 4 Chicago GIA Publications pp 23 6 ISBN 978 1 57999 739 7 Collegiate Band Plans Tabernacle Concert Saturday Deseret News and Salt Lake Telegram Salt Lake City August 15 1957 p B13 Retrieved June 26 2012 a b Collegiate Band To Give Concert Aug 24 In S L Deseret News and Salt Lake Telegram Salt Lake City August 23 1957 p A9 Retrieved June 26 2012 Bennett Robert Russell 2007 Composed 1957 Ferencz George ed Symphonic Songs for Band Musical score Deluxe ed Milwaukee Hal Leonard a b c Winds of Change Media notes Northwestern University Symphonic Wind Ensemble John P Paynter conductor Recorded Anthology of American Music 1997 Recorded 1977 80211 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Symphonic Songs for Band amp oldid 1135647113, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
