Hour of Hallowed Peace, An

From Wind Repertory Project
Steve Danyew

Steve Danyew


General Info

Year: 2016 / 2019
Duration: c. 5:00
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Mixed choir and piano
Publisher: Steve Danyew
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $120.00  |   Score Only (print) - $25.00


Instrumentation

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

  • Bass Drum
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Glockenspiel
  • Marimba
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Originally written for SATB choir, this lush setting combines an original pastoral melody with the Irish hymn tune St. Columba. The resulting work is a moving lyrical tribute that includes a number of short solos for flute and clarinet, and incorporates ensemble singing on “oo” at the end of the work.

- Program Note from publisher


In 2010, while living in the small town of Westminster, Mass., I bought a copy of an old book from the town’s annual Historical Society sale titled Songs for the Sanctuary. The book, published in 1869, was coming apart in places but really captured my interest. Though the word “songs” appears in the title, the book doesn’t contain a single note of music. Rather, it's comprised of old hymn texts – over a thousand of them. Many are beautiful, poetic reflections that congregations would have sung to familiar tunes. Since buying the book, I've used several of the old texts as the basis for new choral compositions. The first was my original version of An Hour of Hallowed Peace, scored for mixed choir and piano.

In this version for concert band, I use the same musical material but expand on the original ideas. When Robert Traugh of Kiski Area High School asked me to write a piece in memory of a student in their band who passed away, I immediately thought about this text and the meaning and imagery it conveys:

There is an hour of hallowed peace,
For those with cares oppressed,
When sighs and sorrowing shall cease,
And all be hushed to rest: -
‘T is then the soul is freed from fears
And doubts, which here annoy ;
Then they, who oft have sown in tears,
Shall reap again in joy.

There is a home of sweet repose,
Where storms assail no more ;
The stream of endless pleasure flows,
On that celestial shore :
There, purity with love appears,
And bliss without alloy ;
There, they, who oft have sown in tears,

Shall reap again in joy.

Commissioned by the Kiski Area High School Band, Shawn Pityk and Robert Traugh, Directors, in memory of Nicholas.

- Program Note from score


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Inlet Wind Community Band (Homer, Ak.) (Eric Simondsen, conductor) - 22 April 2023
  • University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) Wind Ensemble (Kenneth Ozzello, conductor) – 12 November 2019


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources