Best of Rooms, The

From Wind Repertory Project
Randall Thompson

Randall Thompson (arr. Lambrecht)


General Info

Year: 1963 / 2016
Duration: c. 3:55
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: ECS Publishing
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $65.00   |   Score Only (print) - $12.00


Instrumentation

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

  • Chimes
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Suspended Cymbal

Players singing


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

This arrangement of Randall Thompson's unaccompanied choral piece The Best of Rooms was transcribed by Barbara Lambrecht. As a student, Barbara fell in love with Thompson's music after hearing the Texas All-State Choir sing his Testament of Freedom. Years later, as a school band director, she joined her church choir and "discovered" The Best of Rooms. Charmed not only by the music but also the text, she arranged this gem for wind band so that a new generation of musicians, in this case instrumentalists, could experience the genius of Randall Thompson. The music is lush, warm, lyrical, and mystical.

- Program Note from publisher


Born into a family of goldsmiths, Cavalier poet Robert Herrick (1591-1674) is best known for his diverse and jewel-like works, including odes, lyrics about the many aspects of love, nature poetry, and epigrams, as well as religious texts. His poetry is one of the most often set by composers.

The Best of Rooms

Christ, He requires still, wheresoe’er He comes,
To feed, or lodge, to have the best of rooms;
Give Him the choice; grant Him the nobler part
Of all the house: the best of all’s the heart

- Robert Herrick (1647)

Eminent American composer Randall Thompson’s SATB setting for unaccompanied chorus of The Best of Rooms by Robert Herrick follows the poetic text carefully with expressive phrasing, using dynamics and smooth passages to lead to the musical and poetic climax of the poem “grant him the nobler part of all the house: the best of all’s the heart.”

- Program Note from Hebron High School Wind Symphony concert program, 15 December 2016


For my friend Diane.

- Program Note from score


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

  • Thompson, R.; Lambrecht, B. (2016). The Best of Rooms: For Band [score]. E.C. Schirmer Music: Boston.