Of Our New Day Begun

From Wind Repertory Project
Omar Thomas

Omar Thomas


General Info

Year: 2015
Duration: c. 10:15
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Omar Thomas
Cost: Score and Parts (digital) - Rental ($400.00)   |   Score Only (digital) - $50.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
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
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Timpani
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Chimes
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Glockenspiel (extended range with high F required)
  • Marimba (5-octave)
  • Ride Cymbal
  • Snare Drum
  • Splash Cymbal
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tambourine
  • Tam-Tam
  • Tom-Tom (2)
  • Triangle
  • Vibraphone

Players clapping, stamping, humming and singing


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

When the WKU [Western Kentucky University] Wind Ensemble received the invitation to perform at the conference in early July 2015, about two weeks after the tragedy in Charleston, Dr. [Gary] Schallert [conductor of the Western Kentucky University Wind Ensemble] organized a consortium of 37 university, professional and high school bands from across the country to commission the work.

“I reached out to Omar Thomas to see if he would be interested in writing a piece of music that would pay homage to those who died in the tragic shooting,” Dr. Schallert said.

Thomas said his greatest challenge in creating Of Our New Day Begun was walking the line between his reverence for the victims and their families and his bitter feelings about the perpetrator. “I realized that the most powerful musical expression I could offer incorporated elements from both sides of that line -- embracing my pain and anger while being moved by the displays of grace and forgiveness demonstrated by the victims’ families,” he said.

- Program Note from WKU News


Of Our New Day Begun was written to honor nine beautiful souls who lost their lives to a callous act of hatred and domestic terrorism on the evening of June 17, 2015, while worshipping in their beloved sanctuary, the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church (affectionately referred to as “Mother Emanuel”) in Charleston, South Carolina. My greatest challenge in creating this work was walking the line between reverence for the victims and their families, and honoring my strong, bitter feelings towards both the perpetrator and the segments of our society that continue to create people like him. I realized that the most powerful musical expression I could offer incorporated elements from both sides of that line - embracing my pain and anger while being moved by the displays of grace and forgiveness demonstrated by the victims’ families.

Historically, black Americans have, in great number, turned to the church to find refuge and grounding in the most trying of times. Thus, the musical themes and ideas for Of Our New Day Begun are rooted in the Black American church tradition. The piece is anchored by James and John Johnson’s time-honored song, Lift Every Voice and Sing (known endearingly as the “Negro National Anthem”), and peppered with blues harmonies and melodies. Singing, stomping, and clapping are also prominent features of this work, as they have always been a mainstay of black music traditions, and the inclusion of the tambourine in these sections is a direct nod to black worship services.

This work received its premiere on February 20, 2016, at the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Conference, held at The Gaillard Center in Charleston, South Carolina. Members of the Mother Emanuel AME congregation were in attendance.

This work was commissioned by a consortium led by Dr. Gary Schallert and Dr. Jeff Bright of Western Kentucky University to honor the nine victims and families of the June 17, 2015, terrorist attack on Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, SC.

- Program Note by composer


Media


State Ratings

  • Texas: IV. Complete


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Montclair (N.J.) State University Wind Symphony (Thomas McCauley, conductor) – 23 February 2024 (CBDNA 2024 Eastern Division Conference, Ithaca, N.Y.)
  • Association of Texas Small School Bands (ATSSB) Symphonic Band (Michael Golemo, conductor) – 10 February 2024 (2024 TMEA Conference, San Antonio)
  • Toronto (Ont., Can.) Youth Wind Orchestra (Colin Clarke, conductor) - 1 December 2023
  • Iowa All-State Band (Ames) (Travis J. Cross, conductor) - 18 November 2023
  • Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches, Tx.) Wind Symphony (Daniel Haddad, conductor) - 24 October 2023
  • University of Utah (Salt Lake City) Wind Ensemble (Scott Hagen) - 15 September 2023
  • Syracuse University (N.Y.) Wind Ensemble (Jerry Junkin, conductor) - 13 April 2023
  • Ball State University (Muncie, Ind.) Wind Ensemble (Brent Echols, conductor) - 24 March 2023
  • Honors Performance Series Symphonic Band (Jason Noble, conductor) – 4 February 2023 (Carnegie Hall, New York)
  • University of Georgia (Athens) Honor Wind Ensemble (Alfred Watkins, conductor) - 22 January 2023
  • Santa Monica (Calif.) College Wind Ensemble (Kevin McKeown, conductor) - 11 December 2022
  • University of South Florida (Tampa) Festival of Winds Honor Band (Amy Acklin, conductor) - 3 December 2022
  • Leon High School (Tallahassee, Fla.) Symphonic Band (Lee Commander, conductor) 2 December 2022
  • University of Delaware Wind Ensemble (Lauren Reynolds, conductor) – 14 October 2022
  • University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) Wind Orchestra (Elizabeth Peterson, conductor) - 1 May 2022
  • Appalachian State University (Boone, N.C.) Symphony Band (Jason Gardner, conductor) - 25 April 2022
  • University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, Mb., Can.) Wind Ensemble (Jacquie Dawson, conductor) - 22 April 2022
  • University of Toronto (Ont., Can.) Wind Symphony (Jeffrey Reynolds, conductor) - 7 April 2022
  • University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) Symphonic Band (Randall Coleman, conductor) - 26 February 2019
  • Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green) Wind Ensemble (Gary Schallert, conductor) - 20 February 2016 *Premiere Performance*


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources