Hammer and Rail

From Wind Repertory Project
Travis J. Weller

Travis J Weller


General Info

Year: 2015
Duration: c. 2:15
Difficulty: II (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: FJH Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $55.00   |   Score Only (print) - $6.00


Instrumentation

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

  • Bass Drum
  • Bells
  • Brake Drum
  • Chain, Dropped
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Wood Block


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

John Henry, a former slave, worked on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad in the years following the Civil War. While drilling a hole through Big Bend Mountain in West Virginia, Henry was challenged to a worker’s duel – his hammer versus the steam drill that threatened the jobs of many of the men he called friends. From the moment the race ended, the legend of Henry beating the drill only to die with his hammer in his hand grew in story and song. This Old Hammer developed into a work song – a song where the rhythms served to synchronize physical movements in groups such as the grueling hammering common working on the railroad.

Whether or not the legend told through the song is completely accurate, Henry symbolizes several true and classic ideals: dedication to one’s obligations, supporting the people around you, and seeing a project through to the end – important principles in any walk of life. Through his decisions and actions, Henry confronted deeper issues still relevant today – namely protection in the workplace, human dignity, and justice. His story is further a reminder that while we are living in an age of technology, some things still need a decidedly human touch to be authentically created.

- Program Note from publisher


Commercial Discography

None discovered thus far.


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