Decoration Day
From Wind Repertory Project
Charles Ives (transcribed by Jonathan Elkus)
Contents |
General Info
Year: 1912 / 1978
Duration: c. 8:00
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Peermusic Ltd.
Cost: Score and Parts - $75.00 | Score (Purchase) - $16.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
Contrabasoon
Eb Soprano Clarinet
Bb Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
Eb Alto Clarinet
Bb Bass Clarinet
Eb Contra-Alto Clarinet
Bb Contrabass Clarinet
Soprano Saxophone
Alto Saxophone I
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Cornet (in Eb) Solo
Cornet (in Bb) I-II
Flugelhorn (in Bb) I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombones I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Percussion I-II, including
- Bass Drum (with Cymbals)
- Cymbal (suspended)
- Glockenspiel
- Marimba
- Snare Drum
- Tam-Tam
- Timpani
- Tubular Bells
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
In the early morning the gardens and woods about the village are the meeting places of those who, with tender memories and devoted hands, gather the flowers for the Day's Memorial. During the forenoon as the people join each other on the Green there is felt, at times, a fervency and intensity - a shadow, perhaps, of the fanatical harshness - reflecting old Abolitionist days. It is a day as Thoreau suggests, when there is a pervading consciousness of 'Nature's kinship with the lower order - man.'
After the Town Hall is filled with the Spring's harvest of lilacs, daisies and peonies, the parade is slowly formed on Main Street. First come the three Marshals on plough horses (going sideways); then the Warden and Burgesses in carriages, the Village Cornet Band, the G.A.R., two by two, the Militia (Company G), while the volunteer Fire Brigade, drawing the decorated horsecart, with its jangling bells, brings up the rear - the inevitable swarm of small boys following. The march to Wooster Cemetary is a thing a boy never forgets. the roll of muffled drums and Adests Fideles answers for the dirge. A little girl on the fencepost waves to her father and wonders if he looked like that at Gettysburg.
After the last grave is decorated Taps sounds out through the pines and hickories, while a last hymn is sung. Then the ranks are formed again and 'we all march back to town' to a Yankee stimulant - Reeve's inspiring Second Regiment Quickstep - though to many a soldier, the somber thoughts of the day underlie the tunes of the band. the march stops - and in the silence, the shadow of the early morning flower-song rises over the Town, and the sunset behind West Mountain breathes its benediction upon the Day.
Ives's postface to Decoration Day.
Commercial Discography
None discovered thus far.
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Recent Performances
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Additional Works for Winds by this Composer
This composer primarily wrote orchestral music. Other transcriptions of his works include:
- Alcotts, The (arr. Thurston)
- Country Band March (tr. Sinclair)
- Variations on "America" (orch. Schuman, tr. Rhoads)
- Variations on "Jerusalem the Golden" (tr. Brion)
Additional Resources
