Love words

From Wind Repertory Project
Evan Williams

Evan Williams


The title of this work is intentionally written in lower case: love words.


General Info

Year: 2022
Duration: c. 7:30
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Chamber ensemble
Publisher: Murphy Music Press
Cost: $150.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II-III
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon (optional)
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet (optional)
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra-alto Clarinet (optional)
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet (optional)
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
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-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Chimes
  • Hi-Hat Cymbal
  • Marimba
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Vibraphone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

love words is inspired by the poem “Romance” by Harlem Renaissance poet Claude McKay. While many of his poems deal with typical poetic topics like love, McKay was anything but typical. A Jamaican immigrant who lived most of his life in the U.S., an activist involved in the socialist and communist movements, an atheist who later converted to Catholicism, and a bisexual, McKay’s life bucks the traditional narrative of Black male identity in the 20th century.

In poems like “Romance,” love is viewed through a complicated lens, one that ignores obvious distinctions like gender, and embraces the messiness of sexual desire and impermanence. love words is an expansion of my previously-composed setting of this poem, which served as the opening of my work Love Words | Mad Words, a cycle of McKay’s poetry for countertenor and chamber ensemble.

love words was commissioned by the Pride Bands Alliance (formerly the Lesbian and Gay Bands Association) for their 2022 conference in my hometown of Chicago, Ill., celebrating the fortieth anniversary of their formation in the city. McKay’s work is therefore fitting, as he spent his final years in Chicago.

- Program Note by composer


Media

None discovered thus far.


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

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