Sensus Vitae

Nathan Daughtrey

Subtitle: A Fanfare & Chorale for the Good of Humanity

General Info

Year: 2013
Duration: c. 4:20
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: C. Alan
Cost: Score and Parts - $92.00 | Score Only - $16.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe (optional)
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-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass (optional)
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V, including:

Bass Drum
Snare Drum
Bells
Chimes
Suspended Cymbal
Tam-Tam
Tom-Tom
Vibraphone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Sensus Vitae, or “the meaning of life,” was written for the Wake Forest University Bands. The work cleverly weaves the school’s fight song into the texture. The composer states, “I was given a single phrase from which to draw inspiration: Pro Humanitate — This is Wake Forest’s motto which roughly translates from Latin as, 'for humanity' or 'to serve humanity.' Ultimately, it was a simple quote from Leo Tolstoy that gave the piece wings: 'The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.'"

The first eight notes of the fight song are heard in a brief brass fanfare after the upper woodwinds and percussion set the stage. After a climax, the mood settles down, giving way to a clarinet/flute duet, which is loosely based on the opening notes of the fight song. The original tune continues to transform into something more original and intense until the percussion takes over in a bombastic fashion, accentuated by syncopated bursts from the rest of the ensemble. After the dust settles, the fight song is stated as a chorale in the alto saxophones, horns, and low brass, with brief interjections from the upper woodwinds and percussion. This gradually builds to a full ensemble majestic presentation of the theme, bringing the piece to a glorious conclusion.

- Program Note by the Buchholz High School Wind Symphony concert program, 17 December 2014

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

Alabama: Class A

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Tarleton State University (Stephenville, Tx.) Wind Ensemble (David Robinson, conductor) – 10 February 2022 (2022 TMEA Conference, San Antonio)
Tarleton State University (Stephenville, Tx.) Wind Ensemble (David Robinson, conductor) - 18 November 2021
Capitol Symphonic Winds (Hartford, Conn.) (Gary L. Partridge, conductor) – 9 May 2018
Buchholz High School (Gainesville, Fla.) Wind Symphony (Alexander Kaminsky, conductor) – 17 December 2014 (2014 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Apollo's Chariot (Flex instrumentation) (2007/2021)
Appalachian Air (Flex instrumentation) (2003/2021)
Dark Matter (Flex instrumentation) (2016/2020)
Downtown Dash (Flex instrumentation) (2009/2020)
Such Small Things (Flex instrumentation) (2017/2020)
Ye Merry Fantasy (Flex instrumentation) (2020)

All Wind Works

Apollo's Chariot (Flex instrumentation) (2007/2021)
Appalachian Air (Flex instrumentation) (2003/2021)
As Above, So Below (2017)
Black Rainbow (2014)
Blaze (2021)
Bounce (2015)
Chasing Infinity (2018)
Dark Matter (2016)
Dark Matter (Flex instrumentation) (2016/2020)
Downtown Dash (2009)
Downtown Dash (Flex instrumentation) (2009/2020)
Ellipsis (2010)
Fidget (2015)
From the Ashes (2017)
Gate City Snapshot (2012)
Imagining World (2010)
Immortal Dream (2006)
Irish Washerwoman (2006)
Legend of the Sword (Daughtrey) (2007)
Limerick Daydreams (2006)
Mercury Rising (2005)
Point of Reckoning (as arranger) (2015)
Power Struggle (2009)
Sensus Vitae (2013)
Shine On! (2017)
Silent Canyons (2014)
Silver Moon (2007)
Spiraling Light (2016)
StarCatchers (2016)
Such Small Things (2017)
Such Small Things (Flex instrumentation) (2017/2020)
Through the Horizon (2007)
True Things (2017)
Twitch (2016)
Water Spirits (2019)
Ye Merry Fantasy (Flex instrumentation) (2020)

Resources

Daughtrey, N. (2013). Sensus Vitae: A Fanfare & Chorale for the Good of Humanity [score]. C. Alan Publications: Greensboro, N.C.