Shenandoah (Grantham)

From Wind Repertory Project
Donald Grantham

Donald Grantham


General Info

Year: 2017
Duration: c. 5:55
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Piquant Press
Cost: Score and Parts - Rental ($300.00)


Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto 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
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Harp
Celesta
Timpani
Percussion, including:

  • Tam-Tam
  • Vibraphone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

The haunting, beautiful American song Shenandoah has a long and interesting history. It is thought to have originated in the early 19th century with American and Canadian fur trappers, plying their trade on the Missouri River. There are several sets of lyrics associated with the song. One of the oldest tells the tale of a river man who fell in love with the daughter of the Iroquois Indian chief named Shenandoah -- hence the lyric "Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter." There is no resolution of this love story in the earliest version of the song; the river man is "...bound away 'Cross the wide Missouri."

- Program Note by Donald Grantham


Shenandoah is a slow and lyrical setting of the familiar American folk song by the same title. Grantham has often used folk songs and hymns. Here he presents the entire Shenandoah three times with new material interspersed.

Shenandoah was commissioned by the College Band Directors National Association Small Bands Program committee.

- Program Note from Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 12


Media

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • University of North Texas (Denton) Concert Band (Amy Woody, conductor) - 3 November 2021
  • University of Texas (Austin) Wind Ensemble (Matthew Sedatole, conductor) – 27 October 2019
  • Lone Star Youth Winds (Dallas, Tx.) (Amanda Drinkwater, conductor) – 12 May 2019
  • Musashino Academia Musicae Wind Ensemble (Tokyo, Japan) (James Lambrecht, conductor) - 20 December 2018 (2018 Midwest Clinic)
  • Texas Tech University (Lubbock) Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Sarah McKoin, conductor) – 3 May 2018
  • University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) University Band (Betsy McCann, conductor) – 3 May 2018
  • Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches, Tx.) Wind Ensemble (Fred J. Allen, conductor) – 3 December 2017
  • California State University, Los Angeles Wind Ensemble (Emily Moss, conductor) – 21 November 2017
  • University of Nebraska (Lincoln) Symphonic Band (Anthony Falcone, conductor) – 10 October 2017
  • University of Florida (Gainesville) Symphonic Band (John M. Watkins, Jr., conductor) – 13 April 2017
  • CBDNA Small Band Programs Intercollegiate Band (Gary Green, conductor) – 18 March 2017 (CBDNA 2017 National Conference, Kansas City, Mo.)


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

  • Donald Grantham website Accessed 10 October 2017
  • Hamilton, Craig V. "Shenandoah." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 12, Compiled and edited by Andrew Trachsel, 455-459. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2021.