Emblem of Unity

J J Richards

General Info

Year: 1941 / 1988
Duration: c. 3:50
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: C.L. Barnhouse
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $60.00 | Score Only (print) - $6.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano 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 Cornet I-II
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Bass Drum
Bells
Crash Cymbals
Snare Drum

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

This brilliant march, Richards' most popular, was written while he was living in Sterling, Illinois, conducting both the high school and community bands. A classic and exciting composition, this work is played by hundreds of school and professional bands each year. In conducting an elite band composed of outstanding Dutch musicians in 1981, Col. Arnald Gabriel, then conductor of the U.S. Air Force Band, selected Emblem of Unity as one of only six American works for a jubilee concert which was broadcast in Kerkreade, Holland. Some of the composition's unique features include: the chord changes which precede the snare drum forzando in the introduction, the short lower-brass breaks, and the final strain, which sounds correct at either a constant, slower, or accelerating tempo.

- Program Note from Program Notes for Band

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: Carlisle (Texas) High School Indian Band (Scott Rhame, conductor) - 2010
Audio CD: Stone High School Symphonic Band (Mohamad Schuman, conductor) – 2001

State Ratings

Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP II
Kansas: III

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) Maroon Campus Band (Rose Craig Tyler, conductor) - 20 April 2023
Spring Garden Band of York (Dover, Penn.) (Dale Groome, conductor) - 3 July 2023
Tennessee Valley Winds (Murphreesboro) (Erich Zimmerman, conductor) - 10 February 2023
University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire University Band (Randal C. Dickerson, conductor) - 28 November 2022
Central Methodist University (Fayette, Mo.) Wind Ensemble (Skip Vandelicht, conductor) - 14 March 2021
Texas A&M University (College Station) Concert Band (Russell Tipton, conductor) - 6 December 2020
Encore Concert Band (Mokena, Ill.) (Bill Schuetter, conductor) – 1 March 2020
Ohio University (Athens) University Band (Emily Talley, conductor) – 29 October 2019
University of North Dakota (Bismarck) University Band (James Popejoy, conductor) – 8 October 2019
University of Missouri (Columbia) Symphonic Band (Erin Colleen Cooper, conductor) – 28 April 2019
Kingsburg (Calif.) High School Wind Ensemble (Mike Schofield, conductor) -15 March 2019 (2019 Sutherland Wind Festival (Fresno, Calif.)
Kingsburg (Calif.) High School Wind Ensemble (Mike Schofield, conductor) - 14 February 2019 (2019 CASMEC Conference, Fresno)
Genesee Valley (Batavia, N.Y.) Wind Ensemble (Philip J. Briatico, conductor) – 19 November 2017
Messiah College (Mechanicsburg, Penn.) Symphonic Winds (Travis Weller, conductor) - 3 November 2017
Illinois Music Educators Association Junior Festival Concert - 7 November 2015
Stone High School (Wiggins, Miss.) Symphonic Band (Mohamad Schuman, conductor – 22 December 2001 (2001 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Andrea Chénier (as arranger)
All Western Band Review March (1953)
Emblem of Unity (arr. Swearingen) (1941/1988)
Crusade for Freedom (1951)
Florida March (1933)
The Golden Bear (1948)
The Golden Bear (ed. Rhea) (1948/)
Hail, America (1941)
March of Time No 2 (as arranger) (1936/1941)
Shield of Liberty (arr. Glover) (1939/1966/2008)
Triad (arr. Glover) (2000)
West of the Rockies (1946)

Resources

Richards, J.; Swearingen, J. (1988). Emblem of Unity: (Concert March) [score]. C.L. Barnhouse: Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications, pp. 502-3.