Liturgical Music for Band

From Wind Repertory Project
Martin Mailman

Martin Mailman


This work bears the designation Opus 33.


General Info

Year: 1967
Duration: c. 10:00
Difficulty: III-1/2 (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Alfred Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $90.00   |   Score Only - $15.00


Movements

1. Introit - 2:33
2. Kyrie - 3:40
3. Gloria - 2:09
4. Alleluia - 2:45


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet (optional)
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Snare Drum
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Chimes
  • Glockenspiel (extended range with high E-natural required)
  • Marimba
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Timbales
  • Tom-Tom
  • Triangle
  • Xylophone


Errata


Program Notes

Liturgical Music for Band, Op. 33, completed in 1963 in Greenville, North Carolina, was commissioned by the Greenville County High School Band, Emporia, Virginia, John Savage, director, and was premiered by that group in 1963. Since then, the piece has become a landmark work in the band repertoire with countless performances and several generations of students having played it. The piece is based on four movements selected from the Mass Proper and Ordinary. The band plays in a chime-like style to announce the opening movement, Introit. The second movement has the same three sections as the Kyrie from the Mass (Kyrie eleison – Christe eleison – Kyrie elieison). The musical theme of this movement has the same rhythm as the word “Kyrie”. The theme of the third movement is the same rhythm as the word “Gloria” and the style is jubilant, just like the Mass text (“Glory to God in the highest...”). The fourth movement, Alleluia, features an energetic fugue and an exciting climax.

- Source of notes unidentified


In this composition, Mailman attempts to capture the essence of a worship experience. In the first movement, Introit, we hear a joyful church processional accompanied by bells, chimes and a triangle. The second movement, Kyrie, symbolizes the prayer "Lord have mercy upon us." The mood of this movement is dark and somber, with the rhythms based on speech inflections taken from the first word of this traditional Latin prayer, "Kyr-i-e." The third section, Gloria, represents the exaltation of the words "Glory to God in the highest." The last movement, Alleluia, expresses the jubilance of man's faith, with sustained brass chords set against an ascending theme in the woodwinds, representing man's heavenly aspiration.

- Program Note from Program Notes for Band


Media


State Ratings

  • Kansas: IV
  • Maryland: V


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Benedictine College (Atchison, Kan.) Wind Symphony (Brian Casey, conductor) - 2 May 2021
  • Penn State University (University Park) Concert Band (Robert Hickey, conductor) - 27 April 2021
  • Benedictine College (Atchison, Kan.) Wind Symphony (Brian Casey, conductor) - 25 April 2021
  • University Of North Carolina, Greensboro, University Band (Cole Hairston, Conductor) – 19 November 2019
  • Henderson State University (Arkadelphia, Ark.) Wind Ensemble (Steven M. Knight, conductor) – 5 December 2018
  • Exeter (Calif.) Union High School Symphonic Band (Kirk Clague, conductor) - 21 March 2015 (2015 Sutherland Wind Festival (Fresno, Calif.)
  • Marquette University Symphonic Band (Jason S. Ladd, conductor) - 16 November 2014
  • Omaha Symphonic Winds (William Hall, conductor) - 27 October 2013
  • Oklahoma City University Wind Philharmonic (Matthew Mailman, conductor)
  • High School Concert Band [Interlochen, Mich.] (Frederick Fennell, conductor) - 12 August 1988


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

  • Mailman, M. (1967). Liturgical Music for Band, Op. 33 [score]. Mills Music: New York.
  • Martin Mailman website
  • Martin Mailman. Wikipedia.
  • Miles, Richard B., and Larry Blocher. (2010). Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 1. Chicago: GIA Publications. pp. 505-514.
  • Perusal score
  • Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications, pp. 399.