Just got back from a rehearsal of my transcription and edition of Grofés Ode To The Star Spangled Banner which will be performed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on Sept 20th as past of their gala of American music. Thanks to my good friends at the Library of Congress, Loras Schissell and Nicholas Brown for their assistance with this project. The first reading went very well with minor note questions. (whew!!) More information about this work ca be found here: tapsbugler/ode-to-the-star-spangled-banner/ About the work itself, The composition starts with a brass fanfare, then launches into the opening of the anthem shifting through a few tonal areas before giving the listener a musical setting of the battle. “Rule, Britannia!” is quoted along with the anachronistic bugle call of “Assembly.” “Rule, Britannia!” and “Yankee Doodle” then play against each as the musical scenario develops. Markings in the score give indication of what is transpiring; “Sounds of landing party in the distance”, “Shriek of shells”, “Burst of bombs in midair”, and “Firing of muskets”. Grofé utilizes chordal patterns in the strings and woodwinds to achieve effects connecting the brass statements of “Rule, Britannia!” These are occasionally interrupted by “Yankee Doodle” in the woodwinds while the percussion play sounds imitating a battle. The slide whistle is used to great effect for the shrieking of shells. This continues and leads into a section that depicts the American victory. “Hail Columbia” is quoted along with “Yankee Doodle.” A fragment of “Rule, Britannia!” is used in the bass parts to describe the “Retreat of the British.” We are then carried to a full setting of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” This musical setting strays in territories where other composers and arrangers may have dared not trod. The chords stretch the harmonic boundaries while preserving the melody of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” On top is a wild rapid string part that produces almost a trill effect. The middle section has the flutes joining the strings in fast ascending scales that then follow the chordal pattern to the last section of the anthem. This brings us to the big ending with four musical ideas (the high string part, “Yankee Doodle”, a trumpet fanfare, and “Hail Columbia”) all playing against each other finally ending in a big Hollywood sounding finish. It will be an exciting work will accompany a video depicting the battle.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 15:07:20 +0000
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