Hesitating Blues, The

W.C. Handy

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General Info

Year: 1916
Duration: c. 3:05
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Pace & Handy
Cost: Score and Parts – Out of print.

For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.

Instrumentation

D-flat Piccolo
Oboe
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet Solo-II
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet Solo-II
E-flat Horn or Alto I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion

(percussion detail desired)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Hesitation Blues is a popular song adapted from a traditional tune. One version was published by Billy Smythe, Scott Middleton, and Art Gillham. Another was published by W.C. Handy as Hesitating Blues. Because the tune is traditional, many artists have taken credit as writer, frequently adapting the lyrics of one of the two published versions. Adaptations of the lyrics vary widely, though typically the refrain is recognizably consistent. The song is a jug band standard and is also played as blues and sometimes as Western swing.

- Program Note from Wikipedia

Media

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles (Chicago, Ill.) Symphonic Band (Kyle Rhoades, conductor) - 14 November 2021
Columbus (Ohio) State Community College Concert Band (Thomas Lloyd, conductor) - 5 March 2019

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

St. Louis Blues (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Booker) (1914/2017/2020)

All Wind Works

Beale Street Blues (arr. Henderson; adapt. Marshall) (1916/1992)
Hail to the Spirit of Freedom
The Hesitating Blues (arr. Still) (1916)
Loveless Love (1921)
Memphis Blues
St Louis Blues (arr. Henderson) (1914/2003)
St. Louis Blues March (arr. Gray) (1914/1948)
St. Louis Blues (arr. Booker) (1914/2017)
St. Louis Blues (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Booker) (1914/2017/2020)
Yellow Dog Blues (arr. Clark) (1919)

Resources

Handy, W.; Still, W. (1916). Hesitating Blues [score]. Pace & Handy Music: [s.l.].
Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "W.C. Handy." Accessed 31 July 2019
Hesitation Blues, Wikipedia Accessed 31 July 2019