American Faces

David Holsinger

General Info

Year: 1995
Duration: c. 5:50
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: TRN Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $95.00 | Score Only - $12.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flutes
Oboe
Bassoons
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat B-flat Cornet I-II-III
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Bar Chimes
Bass Drum
Cowbell
Crash Cymbals
Field Drum
Gong
Hi-hat Cymbals
Marimba
Orchestral Bells
Siren Whistle
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tambourine
Temple Blocks
Triangle
Tuned Drums (4)
Wood Block
Xylophone

Errata

B-flat Soprano Clarinet I, m.233: Extend slur to beat 4.
B-flat Tenor Saxophone, m.220, beat 2: Add slur.
Euphonium BC, m.200, beat 3: Add slur to match T.C. Euphonium.

Program Notes

Displaying America's exuberance, pioneering spirit and underlying faith, this driving overture uses many diverse themes, both original and borrowed. The work is not a patriotic medley, but rather a tribute to the various qualities that make up the "faces" of America. The piece is full of Holsinger's metrical wizardry and dynamic surprises.

- Program note by publisher

This composition is programmed to show how another composer has dealt with the musical theme of “Simple Gifts”. Although this melody of the Quaker dance song does not appear until near the center of the piece, it becomes a distinct and powerful countermelody to the initial melodic motives. In fact, as the composition comes to a close, the composer turns the musical tables and allows the “Simple Gifts” theme to become the major subject, both in music and thought.

American Faces was commissioned by Scott McCormick and Bands of America for the 1995 Bands of America National Honor Band. Holsinger has attempted in American Faces to musically allude to the multifarious qualities and standards that make up the "faces" of America. It is not a patriotic montage, but rather an overture of diverse themes, original and borrowed, each conveying the composer's impression of the American exuberance, pioneering spirit, and underlying faith.

- Program Note by David Holsinger for Lee University Wind Ensemble concert program, 10 April 2017

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: Rudgers Wind Ensemble - 1998

State Ratings

Alabama: Class AA
Georgia: VI
Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP I
Maryland: V
Minnesota: Category I
New York: Concert Band VI
North Carolina: VI
Tennessee: VI
Virginia: VI

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Clovis North High School (Clovis, Calif.) Wind Ensemble (David Lesser, conductor) – 17 October 2018
Association of Community Bands Convention Band (Buffalo, N.Y.) (Donna L. Morgan, conductor) – 5 May 2018 (ACB 2018 Annual Convention (Buffalo, N.Y.))
West Virginia University Symphonic Band (Lindsey Williams, conductor) - 30 November 2017
Lee University (Cleveland, Tenn.) Wind Ensemble (David Holsinger, conductor) – 10 April 2017
United States Air Force Band (Washington, D.C.) (Joseph Hansen, conductor) – 19 July 2016
Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) and Community Wind Ensemble (James Osborn, conductor) – 1 May 2016
Sierra Wind Symphony of Citrus College (Glendora, Calif.) (Bill Hoehne, conductor) - 17 March 2013 (2013 Sutherland Wind Festival (Fresno, Calif.))
Fishers High School (Ind.) Wind Ensemble - 2012
San Luis Obispo (Calif.) Wind Orchestra (William V. Johnson, conductor) - 29 February 2008

Works for Winds by This Composer

Abram’s Pursuit (1998)
Adagio (2000)
The Adventures of Kid Cam, the Rocketman! (2014)
American Faces (1996)
Ancient Dances (2020)
The Armies of the Omnipresent Otserf (1981)
Army Ants March and Boogie (2005)
At the Strongholds of En Gedi (1996)
Ballet Exaltare (1999)
Ballet Sacra (1990)
Battle Music (1990)
A Call to Celebration (2012)
Canticles! (2001)
The Case of the Mysterious Stranger (1990)
The Chase (2003)
A Childhood Hymn (as arranger) (1862/1991)
City Symphony
- Cityscape I (Festive Hours Neon Night) (2001)
- Cityscape II (Lonely Hours Anguished Night) (2004)
- Cityscape III (Morning Hours Salvation Light) (2008)
The Cluster Bluster Fluster March (1991)
Connacht Rhapsody (2017)
Consider the Uncommon Man (1992)
Deborah's Triumph/Jael's Revenge (2016)
Deerpath Dances (1996)
Divertimented Dances (2006)
The Easter Symphony (1986-1997)
Elegy on an American Folk Tune (2006)
Elegy on an Evening Hymn (2013)
Every Morning New (2002)
Falcon Attack! (2002)
Fanfare for Brass and Timpani (2003)
Fanfare for Such a Time as This (2007)
Fanfare for the Glorious Naycart (2001)
Fantasy on a Gaelic Hymnsong (1999)
Fantasy on Old Hundred (2019)
Festiva Jubiloso (2000)
Festival Music for a Silver Celebration
Fort Canterbury March (1989)
The Gathering of the Ranks at Hebron (1988)
Gears Pulleys Chains (2006)
Gmyway’s Revenge! (1994)
Graysondance (1993)
Gypsydance (1994)
Havendance (1985)
The Helm Toccata (1991)
Hero Music (2005)
Homage: Three Tapestries (1999)
Hopak Raskolniki (1980)
If You Must Doodle, Doodle Somewhere Else (1990)
In Praise of Gentle Pioneers (1996)
In the Spring at the Time When Kings Go Off to War (1991)
A Jolly Walk in Hibbertland (1991)
Kaylen Dreaming (2006)
Kansas City Dances (1978)
L'Arco della Vita (2021)
Lake Canterbury Regatta (1993)
Last Run (2020)
A Little Adventure Music (2002)
Little Fantasy on an American Hymn (2009)
A Little Mystery Music (1996)
Liturgical Dances (1984)
The Maelstrom (2009)
The March of the Combat Patrol (1991)
March of the Grand High Poobah (2006)
March on a Russian Hymnsong (2003)
Mobbusters! (1994)
Nilesdance (1987)
On a Childhood Sunday Song (2004)
On a Hymnsong of Lowell Mason (1990)
On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss (1989)
On a Hymnsong of Robert Lowry (1993)
On a Southern Hymnsong (1993)
On an American Spiritual (1991)
On Ancient Hymns and Festal Dances (1988)
On the Cul-de-sac, Three O’clock, Friday Afternoon (1999)
On the Grand Prairie Texas (1989)
On the Overland Stage to El Paso (2006)
One Day in a Small Town (2004)
Otserf II : Revenge of the Warrior Prince (2009)
Partita Allegro (1997)
The Peasant Village Dance (1990)
Praises! (2001)
Prairie Dances (1998)
Prelude and Presto (2018)
Prelude and Rondo (1976)
The Pride of Buxmont (2000)
Providence Unfinished (2002)
Quiet River (2011)
Reagan of Illinois (2011)
Reagan of Illinois Part II (2013)
Riding With the Frontier Battalion (2000)
Scaling the North Wall (1990)
Scootin’ on Hardrock (1999)
Scrappy Bumptoe’s Picture Cards and Ragtag Diary (1981)
Sinfonia Voci (1993)
Solemn Hymn & Rowdy Dance (2010)
Soliloquy (2020)
Some Give All (2016)
A Song of Moses (1999)
Summer to Fall: A Love Song (2006)
Symphonia Glorioso (2006)
Symphonic Movement (2000)
Texas Promenade (1999
Til His Hand Grew Tired and Froze to the Sword (2004)
To Live a Life Triumphant (2007)
To Tame the Perilous Skies (1990)
Von Grrrhart’s 613th Regimental March (1994)
The War Trilogy: 1971 (1999)
The White Rose (as arranger) (1917/)
Zinphonia (2017)

Resources

David Holsinger website Accessed 28 August 2021
Holsinger, David (1995). American Faces [score]. TRN Music : Ruidoso, N.M.