Africa: Ceremony, Song and Ritual

Robert W. Smith

General Info

Year: 1994 / 2017
Duration: c. 9:00
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Alfred Publications
Cost: Score and Parts - $90.00 | Score Only - $10.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Piccolo
Flute
Oboe (Opt. English Horn)
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 I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V-VI-VII-VIII, including:

Bass Drum
Castanets
Claves (2 sets)
Congas
Cowbells
Cymbals (crash and suspended)
Finger Cymbals
Flexatone
Glockenspiel
Gong (Tam-tam)
Gourd (beaded)
Log Drum
Marimba
Shaker
Timpani
Tom-Toms (large)
Tubular Bells
Wind Chimes

Errata

There are several pitch notation errors in the Piccolo part.

Program Notes

Africa: Ceremony, Song, and Ritual is based on the primitive folk music of Western Africa. Inspired by the recording and research of Mr. Stephen Jay, the work features traditional ceremonial music for dance and entertainment as well as dynamic percussive invocations and historical songs.

African musicians feel that they bring life to their instruments just as God gives life to the musician. As a result, individual instruments are believed to possess consciousness and are treated with the same respect and reverence given to an honored living person. The drum, the featured section of this work, is considered a sacred object as well as a musical instrument. It is believed to be endowed with a mysterious power which has been incomprehensible to the many missionaries and early travelers on the African continent. As one listens, the mind experiences a wide range of emotions including joy, fear, hope, and grief.

Oya "Primitive Fire" recreates man's conquest of fire. In the beginning of time, man discovered that he could create the elusive power by striking two flints together. He gathered his sticks and dry leaves and kindled them. The flames begin to rise very slowly, yet steadily building higher and higher into a large writhing body of energy spreading across the horizon. Suddenly, it begins to fade ... slowly ... losing life ... then the last spark ascends to the heavens and leaves the earth in darkness.

The Ancient Folk Song originates from Ghana, situated in the tropical belt of West Africa. It is a land of lush tropical beaches and rocky lagoons. The peaceful tranquility of this beautiful country was first disturbed by European settlers in the 1500s as Ghana became the center for exporting slaves and gold. As a result, the area became known as the Gold Coast. A secondary melody based on the folk song Marilli weaves throughout the final statement of the original theme.

With thunder and lightening as his weapon, Shango, the God of Thunder, revisits the earth. To herald his return, his devotees chant this invocationary praise. The big and small drums made of hollow trees and the skins of rams resound throughout the night as circles of worshipers dance to a frenzied state. The joyous opening statement returns amid the primal percussion, drawing the work to an exhausting conclusion.

Africa: Ceremony, Song and Ritual was commissioned by and is dedicated to the New Trier High School Band, Winnetka, Illinois, John A. Thomson, Conductor.

- Program Note by Robert W. Smith

Media

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

State Ratings

Minnesota: Category I

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Bethel College (Mishawaka, Ind.) Wind Ensemble (Vicky Warkentien, conductor) – 15 November 2018
Colorado Wind Ensemble (Denver) (David Kish, conductor) - 19 May 2018
Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, Penn.) Symphony Band (Robert Cameron, conductor) – 31 October 2017
Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge) Symphonic Band (Kelvin Jones, conductor) – 22 November 2016
Category 5 Wind Ensemble, Inc. (Charlie Fix, conductor) - 8 March 2014
University of Minnesota, Duluth, Concert Band (Daniel Eaton, conductor) - 10 November 2013
Ohlone Wind Orchesta (Tony Clements, conductor) - 11 March 2012
Liverpool High School Concert Band (James R. Dumas, conductor) - 16 May 2012

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Christmas Declaration (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Glover) (2009/2019)

All Wind Works

Aces (2015)
Ain't No Stoppin' Us (2007)
Affirmation Overture (1991)
Africa: Ceremony, Song and Ritual (1994)
All Is Calm (as arranger) (2002)
American Bell Carol (2012)
An American Christmas (2004)
American Dances (Brass Ensemble) (2017)
- Rag
- Square
- Swing
American Dances (Wind Ensemble) (2017/2018-2019)
- Rag (2017/2019)
- Square (2017/2019)
- Swing (2017/2018)
American Flourish (2009)
American Landscape I (2006)
American Portrait I
And to All a Good Night (2004)
Angels, from the Realms of Glory (as arranger) (1816/1999)
Apollo Fanfare
The Ascension. See: Symphony No 1, "The Divine Comedy"
Ash Lawn Echoes (1993)
At Daybreak (2009)
At the Crossroads (1994)
Bells! (2009)
Beyond the Bell Carol (2018)
Blue. See: Krisanna's Colors
Brazil: Ceremony, Song and Samba (2009)
Brazilian Bell Carol (2016)
Buffalo Dances (2006)
By Loch and Mountain (1997)
Cameroon (2004)
Castle Lore
Celtic Bell Carol (2010)
Celtic Carol (2002)
Celebration Fanfare from "Buffalo Dances" (2006)
Ceremonium (1994)
Chautauqua (2004)
Christmas Concerto III
Christmas Declaration (2009)
Christmas Declaration (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Glover) (2009/2019)
A Christmas Festival (Grade II) (as arranger) (1950/2007)
A Christmas Festival (Grade III) (as transcriber) (1950/2007)
Christmas Hymn (2001)
Christmas in the Round (2001)
A Christmas Proclamation (2008)
Christmas Spectacle (as arranger) (2020)
Cohan Celebration
Crown of Glory (2009)
Crush (2013)
Currents (2006)
Dance Celebration (2000)
Danza
Deck the Halls with Drums and Voices
Declaration and Flourish. See: Vaughan Williams Suite
Declaration in Blue (2002)
Divine Comedy. See: Symphony No 1, "The Divine Comedy"
Dramatico
Dreams (2010)
Dueling Dragons (2009)
Earhart (2012)
El Espiritu de Valencia (2009)
Encanto (1989/2007)
Eternal Peaks (2006)
Evening Alleluias
Fanfare and Processional on an Old English Carol (1999)
Fanfare for a Holiday Celebration (2006)
Fanfare for Tomorrow (2006)
Fiesta La Vida (2009)
Flying Fortress (2019)
Full Throttle (2015)
Furioso
Gentle Winds of Spring (2019)
Georgia on My Mind (as arranger) (1930/1980)
Gladiator Finale
Glorioso (1997)
Goondiwindi
The Great Locomotive Chase (2000)
The Great Steamboat Chase (2003)
The Greatest Generation (2017)
Greensleeves. See: Vaughan Williams Suite
Groovin' Down Cool Street (2009)
Hadrian's Wall (2010)
Herndon Exaltations (1997)
Highlights from "Ragtime" (as arranger) (1997)
Holiday March (with Michael Story) (2006)
Holst Winter Suite
- On This Day Earth Shall Ring (as arranger) (1924/2001)
- In the Bleak Midwinter (as arranger) (1906/1992)
- Old Brenton Carol (as arranger) (1910/2001)
Hoosier Suite
Hymnsong Variants (1996)
In a Gentle Rain (2000)
In the Bleak Mid-Winter
Incantations (1992)
Inchon (2001)
Inchon (adapt. Ninmer) (2001/)
The Inferno. See: Symphony No 1, "The Divine Comedy"
Into the Storm (1994)
Ireland: Of Legend and Lore (1996)
Irish Songs for Solo and Band (2007)
Jingle Bells Forever (1998)
Journeys in Time
King of Kings (1998)
Krisanna's Colors (2015-2017)
- Red (2017)
- Blue (2015)
- Yellow (2016)
Kronos (2003)
Latin Bell Carol (2008)
Liturgical Fanfare (1995)
Lullaby for Band (2007)
The Maelstrom (1997)
March Grandioso (as arranger) (1909/2007)
Mighty Empire (2018)
A Minor Holiday Celebration (as arranger) (2019)
Mirages (2009)
Morpheus (2004)
Moto Continuo (2009)
Musical Mayhem (2017)
A Nation's Strength (2003)
Navarro (2009)
North Bay Vistas (2007)
On Eagle's Wings (1999)
Paradiso. See: Symphony No 1, "The Divine Comedy"
Peace Like a River
Purgatorio. See: Symphony No 1, "The Divine Comedy"
The Prairie is My Garden (2018)
Prevailing Winds (2009)
Promising Skies (2010)
The Recession, Depression Holiday Blues (2009)
Red. See: Krisanna's Colors
Relativo (2011)
Rising Dragons (2006)
Rites of Tamburo (1999)
Repercussions (2007)
The Runaway Sleigh (2007)
Semper Liberi (1998)
Sensei's Ride on the Cherry Blossom Express (2010)
Serengeti Dreams (2000)
Shenandoah (arr. Smith and Story) (2003)
Solaris (2009)
Songs of Earth, Water, Fire and Sky (1998)
Songs of Sailor and Sea (1997)
The Sound and the Fury (1999)
Southwest Summer (2009)
The Spirit of Orpheus (1998)
Spirit of the Winds (2007)
The Star of Dreams (2002)
Star Wars: Episode II, Attack of the Clones (as arranger)
Stone Gardens (2016)
Suite for the Heroes Among Us (2018)
Summer Nights (2016)
The Sword of Kings (2007)
Symphonic Festival (1991)
Symphonic Statement (2006)
Symphony No 1, "The Divine Comedy" (1995)
- The Inferno
- Purgatorio (1997)
- The Ascension (1994)
- Paradiso (1996)
Symphony No. 2, "The Odyssey" (2004)
- The Iliad (2001)
- Winds of Poseidon (1999)
- The Isle of Calypso (2001)
- Ithaca (2004)
Symphony No. 3, "Don Quixote" (2008)
- The Quest (2008)
- Dulcinea (2008)
- Sancho and the Windmills (2008)
- The Illumination (2008)
Symphony of Souls (2007)
The Tempest (1995)
Teutonic Tales (2010)
- Damon-Tanz (2011)
- Freya (2011)
- Thor's Hammer (2011)
Three Fanfares for a Celebration (2007)
Through the Vulcan's Eye (1996)
To Dance in the Secret Garden (1996)
To Challenge the Sky and Heavens Above (2000)
To the Summit! (2001)
Top Gun (1986)
Triton Fanfare (2009)
Tromba Grande (2016)
'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime (as arranger) (1995)
Twelve Seconds to the Moon (1996)
Ultimatum (2009)
Upon a Midnight Clear (as arranger) (2014)
Üsküdar (with Michael Story) (2005)
Valiance: A Heroic Overture for Band (2007)
Vaughan Williams Suite
- Wassail (as arranger) (2006)
- Greensleeves (as arranger) (2007)
- Declaration and Flourish (2008)
Walking the Planks (2012)
When Summer Takes Flight (2002)
Where the Black Hawk Soars (1995)
Wind Song (2017)
A World Holiday Celebration (2007)
Yellow. See: Krisanna's Colors

Resources

Robert W. Smith website Accessed 6 September 2021