Divertimento for Symphonic Winds and Percussion

Karel Husa

Karel Husa (orch. John Boyd)

General Info

Year: 1955 / 1995
Duration: c. 10:20
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Piano, four-hands
Publisher: Ludwig-Masters Publications
Cost: Score and Parts – Out of print

Movements

1. Overture – 1:50
2. Scherzo – 1:25
3. Song - 2:25
4. Slovak Dance – 4:35

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo/Flute III
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Harp
Celeste
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Bass Drum
Bells
Chimes
Crash Cymbals
Crotales (high)
Gong
Marimba
Snare Drum
Tambourine
Tam-tam
Tom-tom
Triangle
Vibraphone
Wood Block
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Husa moved to the United States in 1954, destined for the music faculty at Cornell University. The following year he composed a Divertimento for piano, four-hands. Husa later arranged this music for brass ensemble (1958) and brass quintet (1968). After two decades of gently "pestering" Husa for a wind-band arrangement, John Boyd received permission to fashion his own version, which received its premiere at lndiana State University during Husa's 75th birthday year (1996).

Boyd explained that, "In my orchestration, I have intended to capture all the character and folk flavor of the earlier version. Only in movement three, 'Song,' have I departed from the composer's rather sparse setting ... This is tonal Husa, rhythmically accessible Husa -- an interesting view of a wonderful composer in his earlier years."

- Program Note by Todd Sullivan

Media

Audio: Reference recording. U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America (Michael Willen, conductor)
Audio CD: VanderCook College of Music Symphonic Band (Charles T. Menghini, conductor) - 2005

State Ratings

Florida: VI
Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP I
Louisiana: C
Michigan: Senior High AA
North Carolina: VI
Tennessee: VI
Texas: III. (any two movements)
Texas: IV. Complete
Texas: V. Complete

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

WASBE Youth Wind Orchestra (Prague, Czech.) (Timothy Reynish, conductor) – 23 July 2022 (WASBE Conference, Prague, Czech Republic)
University of Arkansas (Fayetteville) Wind Symphony (Benjamin Lorenzo, conductor) – 3 October 2018
Ithaca (N.Y.) College Wind Ensemble (Christopher Hughes, conductor) – 5 April 2018
Eastman School of Music (Rochester, N.Y.) Wind Orchestra (Kevin Holzman, conductor) – 23 September 2016
Philharmonic Winds (Singapore) (John Boyd, conductor) - 2008
VanderCook College of Music (Chicago, Ill.) Symphonic Band (Charles T. Menghini, conductor) – 16 December 2005 (2005 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Al Fresco (1973)
Apotheosis of this Earth (1970)
Cheetah (2007)
Concertino for Piano and Wind Ensemble (1984)
Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Concert Band (1967)
Concerto for Percussion and Wind Ensemble (1970)
Concerto for Trumpet and Wind Orchestra
Concerto for Wind Ensemble (1982)
Divertimento for Brass and Percussion (1957)
Divertimento for Symphonic Winds and Percussion (arr. John Boyd) (1995)
Élégie from "Osm českých duet" (arr. Reynolds) (1955/2022)
Fanfare for Brass and Percussion (1981)
Les Couleurs Fauves (1996)
Music for Prague 1968 (1968)
Smetana Fanfare (1984)

Resources

Husa, K.; Boyd, J. (1995). Divertimento for symphonic winds and percussion [score]. Ludwig Music Pub.: Grafton, Ohio.
Sullivan, Todd (2000). "Divertimento". Liner note from CD Philharmonia a Vent: Masterworks for Wind Band.