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General Info
Year:
Duration:
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Manuscript
Cost: Score and Parts - Unknown
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II (divisi)
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Timpani
Percussion I-VI
(percussion detail desired)
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
About 16 years ago, we performed a concert march by composer Lamont Downs entitled DDA40X, a tribute to an experimental, high-horsepower diesel locomotive of the 1960’s. A few years later, we featured composer Eric Whitacre’s eulogy to the old west Steam Locomotive, Ghost Train. As a recognized train lover, music friends have asked repeatedly where my “train piece” is?
This is it. (Railroad history – Whether you want or not!)
The EMD (General Motors) BL-2 was a four-axle diesel locomotive built in 1948 through 1950. Often considered the “Ugly Duckling” of diesel offerings from EMD, the BL-2 led the way for the company’s widely successful “General Purpose” series of locomotives.
EMD’s diesel program was well underway in the late 1940s and early 1950s, thanks to the success of the company’s demonstrations across the country. While the F-Units in production were great for moving trains over the railroad, their stylish full-width carbody made it difficult for locomotive crews to see to the rear of the locomotive. Since the engine inside the locomotive’s hood didn’t take up the full carbody width, it seemed only logical that the hood could be “cut away” a bit, to allow the crew to see the train more easily from inside the cab, and also to ride more safely outside the cab, but while hopefully retaining the style and looks of a full width streamlined style.
Limiting the BL-2 locomotive’s success were several mechanical and ergonomic drawbacks. The mechanical components within the engine compartment were difficult to access and maintain, reducing its appeal among railroad shop crews. The locomotive’s carbody lacked the full-length walkways, making it difficult for the brakeman or switchman to move around the exterior, which, of course, was the entire reasoning for a new design!
While thousands of the streamlined F-Units were built and sold throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, only 58 of the BL units were produced and of those, it was only a few years before they were either mothballed or disassembled.
As a model railroader, I suppose I’ve always liked the looks of this “unfortunate little engine who just couldn’t do anything right”! So, what do I do but compose music in its honor. This is what railroad composer nerds do.
- Program Note by composer
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
- Lee University (Cleveland, Tenn.) Wind Ensemble (David Holsinger, conductor) – 19 November 2019
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Abram’s Pursuit (1998)
- Adagio (2000)
- The Adventures of Kid Cam, the Rocketman! (2014)
- American Faces (1996)
- Ancient Dances (2020)
- The Armies of the Omnipresent Otserf (1981)
- Army Ants March and Boogie (2005)
- At the Strongholds of En Gedi (1996)
- Ballet Exaltare (1999)
- Ballet Sacra (1990)
- Battle Music (1990)
- A Call to Celebration (2012)
- Canticles! (2001)
- The Case of the Mysterious Stranger (1990)
- The Chase (2003)
- A Childhood Hymn (as arranger) (1862/1991)
- City Symphony
- The Cluster Bluster Fluster March (1991)
- Connacht Rhapsody (2017)
- Consider the Uncommon Man (1992)
- Deborah's Triumph/Jael's Revenge (2016)
- Deerpath Dances (1996)
- Divertimented Dances (2006)
- The Easter Symphony (1986-1997)
- Elegy on an American Folk Tune (2006)
- Elegy on an Evening Hymn (2013)
- Every Morning New (2002)
- Falcon Attack! (2002)
- Fanfare for Brass and Timpani (2003)
- Fanfare for Such a Time as This (2007)
- Fanfare for the Glorious Naycart (2001)
- Fantasy on a Gaelic Hymnsong (1999)
- Fantasy on Old Hundred (2019)
- Festiva Jubiloso (2000)
- Festival Music for a Silver Celebration
- Fort Canterbury March (1989)
- The Gathering of the Ranks at Hebron (1988)
- Gears Pulleys Chains (2006)
- Gmyway’s Revenge! (1994)
- Graysondance (1993)
- Gypsydance (1994)
- Havendance (1985)
- The Helm Toccata (1991)
- Hero Music (2005)
- Homage: Three Tapestries (1999)
- Hopak Raskolniki (1980)
- If You Must Doodle, Doodle Somewhere Else (1990)
- In Praise of Gentle Pioneers (1996)
- In the Spring at the Time When Kings Go Off to War (1991)
- A Jolly Walk in Hibbertland (1991)
- Kaylen Dreaming (2006)
- Kansas City Dances (1978)
- L'Arco della Vita (2021)
- Lake Canterbury Regatta (1993)
- Last Run (2020)
- A Little Adventure Music (2002)
- Little Fantasy on an American Hymn (2009)
- A Little Mystery Music (1996)
- Liturgical Dances (1984)
- The Maelstrom (2009)
- The March of the Combat Patrol (1991)
- March of the Grand High Poobah (2006)
- March on a Russian Hymnsong (2003)
- Mobbusters! (1994)
- Nilesdance (1987)
- On a Childhood Sunday Song (2004)
- On a Hymnsong of Lowell Mason (1990)
- On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss (1989)
- On a Hymnsong of Robert Lowry (1993)
- On a Southern Hymnsong (1993)
- On an American Spiritual (1991)
- On Ancient Hymns and Festal Dances (1988)
- On the Cul-de-sac, Three O’clock, Friday Afternoon (1999)
- On the Grand Prairie Texas (1989)
- On the Overland Stage to El Paso (2006)
- One Day in a Small Town (2004)
- Otserf II : Revenge of the Warrior Prince (2009)
- Partita Allegro (1997)
- The Peasant Village Dance (1990)
- Praises! (2001)
- Prairie Dances (1998)
- Prelude and Presto (2018)
- Prelude and Rondo (1976)
- The Pride of Buxmont (2000)
- Providence Unfinished (2002)
- Quiet River (2011)
- Reagan of Illinois (2011)
- Reagan of Illinois Part II (2013)
- Riding With the Frontier Battalion (2000)
- Scaling the North Wall (1990)
- Scootin’ on Hardrock (1999)
- Scrappy Bumptoe’s Picture Cards and Ragtag Diary (1981)
- Sinfonia Voci (1993)
- Solemn Hymn & Rowdy Dance (2010)
- Soliloquy (2020)
- Some Give All (2016)
- A Song of Moses (1999)
- Summer to Fall: A Love Song (2006)
- Symphonia Glorioso (2006)
- Symphonic Movement (2000)
- Texas Promenade (1999
- Til His Hand Grew Tired and Froze to the Sword (2004)
- To Live a Life Triumphant (2007)
- To Tame the Perilous Skies (1990)
- Von Grrrhart’s 613th Regimental March (1994)
- The War Trilogy: 1971 (1999)
- The White Rose (as arranger) (1917/)
- Zinphonia (2017)
Resources
- David Holsinger, personal correspondence, November 2019
- David Holsinger website Accessed 29 August 2021