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Easter Symphony, The
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Subtitle: For Symphonic Band, Baritone Voice & Mixed Chorus
General Info
Year: 1995 / 2001
Duration: c. 49 :00
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Southern Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $275.00 | Score Only (print) - movement scores available separately
Movements
1. Kings (1996) – 19:30
2.The Deathtree (1986) – 13:50
3. Symphonia Resurrectus (1997) – 15:20
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
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 Cornet I-II-III
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba I-II
Timpani
Percussion I-VI,
(percussion detail desired)
Baritone Voice
SATB Chorus
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
In 1986, David Holsinger completed The Death Tree -- a fairly large and profoundly programmatic work for winds, percussion and solo baritone voice depicting the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The premise of the initial movement lies in the irony of the historical setting: The people of Israel assumed that the coming King would be a warrior, saving them from the oppression of the Romans. Instead, they were presented with a servant king. The piece opens in a slow tempo, the baritione soloist intensely proclaiming the text, setting the mood for the symphony.
Holsinger provides Kings with a strong sense of symmetry and cohesion. The movement both begins and ends quietly and slowly. The tempos and dynamics in the central sections are varied, but always "connected."
Like Kings, The Death Tree begins quietly, but in a more mystical manner. Holsinger takes the listener through the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The hammer blows of the nails into the cross are penetrating and incisive, followed by baritone solo enunciating a poignant text.
Holsinger indicated that when he finished The Death Tree (1986), he left it with just "a bit too much hope." Because the resurrection had not yet occurred, the composer felt that he needed to take the listener into the battle between death and the promise of the resurrected life forthcoming. The movement begins with a heavy sense of darkness: ominous, foreboding, cacaphonic, aimless, heavily dissonant. Out of the midst of hopelessness, the choir brings a new melody. The text is one of promise, but the brutal tone of the choir and the winds/percussion does not match the text.
- Program Note extracted from analysis by Douglas Nimmo
Media
- Audio: Reference recording. University of North Texas Symphonic Band (Dennis Fisher, conductor; Kenneth Lee, baritone)
- Audio CD: University of North Texas Grand Chorus and Symphony Band (Dennis Fischer, conductor) - 2013
- Audio CD: William Mason High School Wind Symphony (Robert C. Bass, Jr., conductor; Jonathan Cool, baritone) - 2004
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Gustavus Wind Orchestra (Saint Peter, Minn.) (James Patrick Miller, conductor) – 10 May 2014
- William Mason (Mason, Ohio) High School Wind Symphony (Robert C. Bass, Jr., conductor; Jonathan Cool, baritone) – 17 December 2004 (2004 Midwest Clinic)
- Gustavus Wind Orchestra and Gustavus and Chapel Choirs (Saint Peter, Minn.) (David Holsinger, conductor; Michael Jorgensen, baritone) – 28 April 1995 *Premiere Performance*
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Abram’s Pursuit (1998)
- Adagio (2000)
- The Adventures of Kid Cam, the Rocketman! (2014)
- American Faces (1996)
- Ancient Dances (2020)
- The Armies of the Omnipresent Otserf (1981)
- Army Ants March and Boogie (2005)
- At the Strongholds of En Gedi (1996)
- Ballet Exaltare (1999)
- Ballet Sacra (1990)
- Battle Music (1990)
- A Call to Celebration (2012)
- Canticles! (2001)
- The Case of the Mysterious Stranger (1990)
- The Chase (2003)
- A Childhood Hymn (as arranger) (1862/1991)
- City Symphony
- The Cluster Bluster Fluster March (1991)
- Connacht Rhapsody (2017)
- Consider the Uncommon Man (1992)
- Deborah's Triumph/Jael's Revenge (2016)
- Deerpath Dances (1996)
- Divertimented Dances (2006)
- The Easter Symphony (1986-1997)
- Elegy on an American Folk Tune (2006)
- Elegy on an Evening Hymn (2013)
- Every Morning New (2002)
- Falcon Attack! (2002)
- Fanfare for Brass and Timpani (2003)
- Fanfare for Such a Time as This (2007)
- Fanfare for the Glorious Naycart (2001)
- Fantasy on a Gaelic Hymnsong (1999)
- Fantasy on Old Hundred (2019)
- Festiva Jubiloso (2000)
- Festival Music for a Silver Celebration
- Fort Canterbury March (1989)
- The Gathering of the Ranks at Hebron (1988)
- Gears Pulleys Chains (2006)
- Gmyway’s Revenge! (1994)
- Graysondance (1993)
- Gypsydance (1994)
- Havendance (1985)
- The Helm Toccata (1991)
- Hero Music (2005)
- Homage: Three Tapestries (1999)
- Hopak Raskolniki (1980)
- If You Must Doodle, Doodle Somewhere Else (1990)
- In Praise of Gentle Pioneers (1996)
- In the Spring at the Time When Kings Go Off to War (1991)
- A Jolly Walk in Hibbertland (1991)
- Kaylen Dreaming (2006)
- Kansas City Dances (1978)
- L'Arco della Vita (2021)
- Lake Canterbury Regatta (1993)
- Last Run (2020)
- A Little Adventure Music (2002)
- Little Fantasy on an American Hymn (2009)
- A Little Mystery Music (1996)
- Liturgical Dances (1984)
- The Maelstrom (2009)
- The March of the Combat Patrol (1991)
- March of the Grand High Poobah (2006)
- March on a Russian Hymnsong (2003)
- Mobbusters! (1994)
- Nilesdance (1987)
- On a Childhood Sunday Song (2004)
- On a Hymnsong of Lowell Mason (1990)
- On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss (1989)
- On a Hymnsong of Robert Lowry (1993)
- On a Southern Hymnsong (1993)
- On an American Spiritual (1991)
- On Ancient Hymns and Festal Dances (1988)
- On the Cul-de-sac, Three O’clock, Friday Afternoon (1999)
- On the Grand Prairie Texas (1989)
- On the Overland Stage to El Paso (2006)
- One Day in a Small Town (2004)
- Otserf II : Revenge of the Warrior Prince (2009)
- Partita Allegro (1997)
- The Peasant Village Dance (1990)
- Praises! (2001)
- Prairie Dances (1998)
- Prelude and Presto (2018)
- Prelude and Rondo (1976)
- The Pride of Buxmont (2000)
- Providence Unfinished (2002)
- Quiet River (2011)
- Reagan of Illinois (2011)
- Reagan of Illinois Part II (2013)
- Riding With the Frontier Battalion (2000)
- Scaling the North Wall (1990)
- Scootin’ on Hardrock (1999)
- Scrappy Bumptoe’s Picture Cards and Ragtag Diary (1981)
- Sinfonia Voci (1993)
- Solemn Hymn & Rowdy Dance (2010)
- Soliloquy (2020)
- Some Give All (2016)
- A Song of Moses (1999)
- Summer to Fall: A Love Song (2006)
- Symphonia Glorioso (2006)
- Symphonic Movement (2000)
- Texas Promenade (1999
- Til His Hand Grew Tired and Froze to the Sword (2004)
- To Live a Life Triumphant (2007)
- To Tame the Perilous Skies (1990)
- Von Grrrhart’s 613th Regimental March (1994)
- The War Trilogy: 1971 (1999)
- The White Rose (as arranger) (1917/)
- Zinphonia (2017)
Resources
- David Holsinger website Accessed 29 August 2021
- Holsinger, D. (1996). Easter Symphony : For Symphonic Band, Baritone Voice & Mixed Chorus [score]. Southern Music: San Antonio, Tx.
- Nimmo, Douglas. "David Holsinger's The Easter Symphony, " Gustavus Adophus College. Web. Accessed 13 May 2020
- Pease, Andy. "Easter Symphony." The Wind Band Symphony Archive. Web. Accessed 13 May 2020