Music for Prague 1968
From Wind Repertory Project
Contents |
General Info
Year: 1968
Duration: c. 18:30
Difficulty: VII (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Associated Music Publishers, Inc.
Cost: Score and Parts - $150.00 | Score Only - $30.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
Piccolo (also doubles flute)
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
Eb Soprano Clarinet
Bb Soprano Clarinet I-II-III (each part is divided and requires multiple players)
Eb Alto Clarinet
Bb Bass Clarinet
Eb Contra-Alto Clarinet (doubles the Baritone Sax part)
Bb Contrabass Clarinet (doubles the Bass Saxophone part)
Alto Saxophone I-II
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone (doubles the Contra-Alto Clarinet part)
Bb Bass Saxophone (doubles the Contrabass Clarinet part)
Trumpet (in Bb) I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium I-II
Tuba (multiple players necessary)
String Bass
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V, including:
- Antique Cymbals (pitched C-E-B)
- Bass Drum
- Cymbals (1 crash and 3 suspended: small, medium, and large)
- Marimba
- Snare Drum (preferably 2-3)
- Tam-Tam (3: small, medium, large)
- Timpani
- Tom-Toms (3: small, medium, large)
- Triangles (3: small, medium, large)
- Tubular Bells
- Vibraphone
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Music for Prague 1968 was commissioned by the Ithaca College Concert Band. It was premiered by the commissioning ensemble in Washington, D.C., on 31 January 1969, Dr. Kenneth Snapp, conductor, at a concert for the Music Educators National Conference.
Three main ideas bind the composition together. The first and most important is an old Hussite war song from the 15th century, "Ye Warriors of God and His Law," a symbol of resistance and hope for hundreds of years, whenever fate lay heavy on the Czech nation. It has been utilized by many Czech composers, including Smetana in My Country. The beginning of this religious song is announced very softly in the first movement by the timpani and concludes in a strong unison (Chorale). The song is never used in its entirety.
The second idea is the sound of bells throughout; Prague, named also The City of "Hundreds of Towers," has used its magnificently sounding church bells as calls of distress as well as of victory.
The last idea is a motif of three chords first appearing very softly under the piccolo solo at the beginning of the piece, in flutes, clarinets, and horns. Later it reappears at extremely song dynamic levels, for example, in the middle of the Aria.
Different techniques of composing as well as orchestrating have been used in Music for Prague 1968 and some new sounds explored, such as the percussion section in the Interlude, the ending of the work, etc. Much symbolism also appears: in addition to the distress calls in the first movement (Fanfares), the unbroken hope of the Hussite song, sound of bells, or the tragedy (Aria), there is also the bird call at the beginning (piccolo solo), symbol of liberty which the City of Prague has seen only for a few moments during its thousand years of existence.*
Program Notes by Karel Husa
*It is the composer's wish that the preceding note be printed in its entirety in all concert programs or read to the audience before each performance of the work.
"It is not as beautiful a music as one always would like to hear. But we cannot always paint flowers, we cannot always speak in poetry about beautiful clouds, there are sometimes we would like to express the fight for freedom." -Karel Husa
Commercial Discography
State Ratings
- Florida: VI --- (The Florida Bandmasters Association denotes this as "significant literature.")
- Iowa: VI
- South Carolina: "Masterwork"
- Texas: V
Recent Performances
(To add performances, please join the WRP by contacting the webmaster)
- J.P. Taravella High School Wind Orchestra (Neil Jenkins, conductor) - 28 February 2008 (CBDNA/NBA Southern Division Convention)
- Crane Wind Ensemble of SUNY Potsdam (Brian K. Doyle, conductor) - 18 April 2007
- Florida State University Symphonic Band (Patrick Dunnigan, conductor) - 24 February 2006
Additional Works for Winds by this Composer
- Al Fresco (1973)
- Apotheosis of this Earth (1970)
- Cheetah (2005)
- Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Concert Band
- Concerto for Percussion and Wind Ensemble (1971)
- Concerto for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble
- Concerto for Wind Ensemble (1982)
- Divertimento for Symphonic Winds and Percussion (arr. John Boyd)
- Fanfare for Brass Ensemble (1981)
- Smetana Fanfare
Additional Resources
- Fullmer, David. (2003). "Karel Husa" from A Composer's Insight, Volume One." Galesville, MD: Meredith Music.
