Hambone

Libby Larsen

General Info

Year: 2001
Duration: c. 3:50
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Band Quest
Cost: Score and Parts - $60.00 | Score - $5.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Piccolo
Flute
Oboe
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
Bassoon
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
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

Cowbell
Glockenspiel
Maracas
Samba Whistle
Snare Drum
Tambourine
Tom-Toms (2)
Triangle
Tubular Bells
Woodblock
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Hambone, by Libby Larsen, is a rhythmically driven piece that uses hambone rhythms, early rock n' roll patterns and cakewalk melodies as inspiration. The composer drew on three important African-American cultural traditions while composing Hambone. The term "hambone" comes from bones that enslaved Africans used to make music when they were denied use of traditional instruments. Later, the term was used to describe the hand clapping game played by African-American children as they clapped, patted thighs and slapped various parts of the body to accompany singing. Another tradition, the cakewalk, refers to an 18th century plantation dance. In a cakewalk, the dancers hold their upper bodies stiff while improvising fancy dance steps with their lower bodies that allowed individual dancers to display their best moves. The dance was performed to syncopated melodies.

The third tradition -- rock and roll -- developed out of rhythm and blues. Bo Diddley was an important innovator in the development of this American popular style of music; the syncopated accompaniment used in Hambone was one of his trademarks.

Hambone was commissioned by the American Composers Forum as part of the Band Quest project.

- Program Note from score

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

Ohio Wesleyan University (Delaware, Ohio) Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Richard Edwards, conductor) - 21 March 2021
Northern Illinois University (DeKalb) Wind Ensemble (Ronnie Wooten, conductor) – 15 November 2019
University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) Gold Campus Band (Cory Near, conductor) – 26 October 2017
University of Nebraska (Lincoln) Donald A. Lentz Concert Band (Alexander Burgess, conductor) – 27 April 2017
Austin Peay State University Symphonic Band (John Schnettler, conductor) - 7 April 2014

Works for Winds by This Composer

And Another Thing (2012)
Big Bertha (2014)
Blue Windows (2005)
Brass Flight (1996)
Brazen Overture (2000/2012)
Concert Dances (1996)
Confluence (2014)
Cri de Coeur (2009)
Fanfare: Strum (1996)
Fanfare for a Learned Man (2005)
Fanfare for Humanity (2003)
Grand Rondo (1988)
Hambone (1999)
He Arose (2007)
Holy Roller (arr. Boyd) (1997/?)
An Introduction to the Moon (2005)
River Fanfare (2004/2015)
Short Symphony (1995)
Strut (2003/2008)
Sun Song (1991)
Ursa (2010)
Wait a Minute... (2004)
With Love and Hisses (1985)

Resources

Band Quest website
The Horizon Leans Forward…, compiled and edited by Erik Kar Jun Leung, GIA Publications, 2021, p. 382-383.