Songs of Old Kentucky

Brant Karrick

General Info

Year: 2007
Duration: c. 6:00
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Alfred Publishing
Cost: Score and Parts - $75.00 | Score Only - $10.00

Movements

1. John Giley (with Wayfaring Stranger) - 3:15
2. Barn Dance - 2:30

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo/Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
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
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Snare Drum
Bass Drum
Crash Cymbals
Bells
Chimes
Suspended Cymbal
Tambourine
Triangle
Wind Chimes
Wood Block
Xylophone

Players clapping

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

The Kentucky mountaineers have preserved a proud heritage of traditional ballads, and other old Scottish and English folk songs brought to America by their ancestors. Borrowing from this wonderful genre of folk songs, this outstanding setting of John Riley, The Lonesome Scenes of Winter, Sourwood Mountain, Frog Went-A- Courting, and Loving Hannah is destined to become a band classic. Skillfully scored and imaginative in setting, Songs of Old Kentucky provides a charming vehicle for expressive playing.

- Program Note from publisher

Five folk tunes are employed in Karricks Songs of Old Kentucky. All come from transcriptions made by Josephine McGill and Loraine Wyman, who traveled the Cumberland Mountains during the early 20th century collecting a total of more than 200 songs. These songs reflect the heritage of the mountain settlers, reaching back to their Scottish and English roots of generations past.

The work was premiered in 2006 by the Kentucky Music Educators Association District — IX All District Band, the group for which it was commissioned. John Riley (with Wayfaring Stranger), is the first movement of the work. The music emerges from a beautiful if somewhat lonely alto saxophone soliloquy. Soon joined in counterpoint by the clarinet, the lines unfold to engage the entire ensemble in a colorful tapestry of thematic statements until the movement is called to conclusion through the return of the melancholy call of the alto saxophone.

- Program Note by the Louisville Concert Band concert program, 19 December 2013

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: Austin Symphonic Band (Richard Floyd, conductor) - 2007
Audio CD: Reference recording. Alfred Concert Band; conductor unknown

State Ratings

Florida: IV
Texas: III. Complete

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Kentucky Virginia Summer Winds (Whitesburg, Ky.) (Richard Suk, conductor) - 14 June 2022
The Ohio State University (Columbus) Collegiate Winds (David Hedgecoth, conductor) - 21 November 2021
East Central Community College (Decatur, Miss.) Wind Ensemble - 13 April 2021
College of New Jersey (Ewing Township) Gold Wind Ensemble (Eric Laprade, conductor) – 4 December 2019
University of Miami (Coral Gables) Orange Concert Band (Chris Blackmer, conductor) – 2 February 2019
Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches, Tx.) University Band (Brandon Beavers, conductor) - 29 April 2018
Louis Pizitz Middle School (Vestavia Hills, Ala.) Symphonic Band (Kim Bain, conductor) – 22 February 2018 (CBDNA 2018 Southern Conference, Tampa, Fla.)
University of Texas, Arlington, Symphonic Band (Christopher Evans, conductor) – 23 February 2017
The Ohio State University (Columbus) Collegiate Winds (David Hedgecoth, conductor) – 11 October 2016
Lexington (Mass.) Bicentennial Band (Jeffrey Leonard, conductor) – 31 January 2016
Flint (Mich.) Concert Band (Bruce Nieuwenhuis, conductor) - 1 May 2015
Austin (Texas) Symphonic Band (Richard Floyd, conductor) - 29 September 2014
Louisville (Ky.) Concert Band (Acton Osterling, Jr., conductor) - 19 December 2013 (2013 Midwest Clinic)
Grand Ridge High School Wind Symphony - February 2010
Austin (Tx.) Symphonic Band (Richard Floyd, conductor) – 22 December 2007 (2007 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

African Dreams (2012)
Bayou Breakdown (2004)
Comet Flash (2019)
Companions on the Journey (2006/2008)
Country Gardens (as arranger) (1918/2013)
Cumberland Falls Overture (2008)
Dean Dowdy
The Dragoon's Farewell (1998)
Exuberance (2012)
Ghost Dancing (2012)
A Golden Celebration (2010)
Homeward Bound (as arranger) (1991/2009)
If I Should Go (2021)
In My Native Country (as arranger) (1886/1999)
J.S. Jig (2008)
The Journey (2009)
Mambo Furioso (2001/2006)
Memor Vita! (2010)
The Old Red Mill (2010)
Photo Finish! (2007)
Quirks (2012)
Reluctant Joys (as arranger) (2020)
Runway Five (2014)
A Sacred Suite (2006)
See Rock City (2011)
Shannon Lake (2002/2003)
Slumber, My Darling (as arranger) (1862/2006)
Songs of Old Kentucky (2007)
Spy Chase (2005)
They Shall Run and Be Free (2009)
Unbridled Spirit!
Vanity Fair (as transcriber) (2006)
Vital Signs (2019)
When Hearts Tremble (2017)
With Visions of Tomorrow (2013)
With Wind and Water (2018)
Wondrous (2015)

Resources

Kerrick. B. (2007). Songs of Old Kentucky [score]. Alfred Publishing: Van Nuys, Ca.