Heroes, Lost and Fallen

From Wind Repertory Project
David Gillingham

David Gillingham


Subtitle: A Vietnam Memorial


General Info

Year: 1989 / 1991
Duration: c. 10:50
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Composer's Editions, through Hal Leonard, Inc
Cost: Score and Parts - $175.00   |   Score - $15.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon
Contrabassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
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
Timpani
Piano
Percussion I-II-III, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Crotales
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Glockenspiel
  • Gong (Tam-tam)
  • Marimba
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tom-toms (4)
  • Tubular Bells
  • Vibraphone
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Heroes Lost and Fallen (A Vietnam Memorial) is a tone poem for symphonic band based on the following poem by the composer:

Banish our thoughts
 From this grueling war.
 Let Suffering and Death
 Rule no more.

Resolve this conflict
 In hearts so sullen
 And bring eternal peace
 To the heroes, lost and fallen.

The work opens with an air of mysteriousness on a sustained sonority by bowed vibraphone with marimba tremolo. There are interspersed motives suggesting trumpet calls and quotes from the Star-Spangled Banner and the Vietnamese National Anthem. This beginning section reflects the uncertainty and instability before war. Following is a warm and consonant chorale in the low brass alluding to the world ideal of peace and serenity. This section segues into a sort of slow "march to war". Just as the realization of the inevitability of war increases, so does this section increase in dynamic and dissonant intensity. Climaxing the section are quotes from the Star-Spangled Banner and Taps.

The ensuing section expresses the war itself with driving rhythms, dense textures, chaotic accompanimental motives and sinister themes. Growing in intensity, the section culminates with haunting "trumpet calls" alternated between trumpets and horns followed by four hammered articulations of a tone cluster. A thunderous roll of drums then elides into the next section where the consonant choral of "peace" reasserts itself, this time amidst the continuing conflict of war, suggesting that somehow "Good" will triumph over "Evil". Both the chorale and the conflicting forces fade away, and a short dirge-like section follows based on the opening motive of the chorale, signifying destruction, death and aftermath. But the ever-present force of "Good" emerges and a serene yet powerful theme is stated, beginning in the horns. The theme grows to a glorious climax, diminishes and settles into C Major, the "key of the earth". A unison "C", with underlying tumultuous articulations by the drums, culminates the work ... the drums reminding us that the threat of war will always be present.

- Program Note from the score


Media


State Ratings

  • Minnesota - Category I
  • New York VI
  • Virginia: VI
  • Texas: V


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Jason K. Fettig, conductor) - 28 May 2023
  • The Ohio State University (Columbus) Wind Symphony (Russell C. Mikkelson, conductor) - 24 April 2022
  • University of Cincinnati (Ohio) College-Conservatory of Music Wind Ensemble (Thomas Gamboa, conductor) - 15 November 2021
  • Texas Christian University Symphonic Band (Fort Worth) (Brian Youngblood, conductor) - 3 October 2019
  • Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio) Symphonic Winds (Ryan Sherber, conductor) – 11 November 2018
  • Mississippi Wind Symphony (Jackson) (Craig Young, conductor) - 3 July 2018
  • Knightwind Ensemble (Milwaukee, Wisc.) (Erik N. Janners, conductor) – 8 April 2018
  • University of Florida (Gainesville) Symphonic Band (John M. Watkins, Jr., conductor) – 30 November 2017
  • Kennesaw (Ga.) University Wind Symphony (Debra Traficante, conductor) – 16 November 2017
  • Western Illinois University (Macomb) Wind Ensemble (Mike Fansler, conductor) - 11 November 2016
  • Rutgers (University, Brunswick, N.J.) Symphony Band (Darryl J. Bott, conductor) – 17 October 2015
  • Buchholz High School (Gainesville, Fla.) Wind Symphony (Alexander Kaminsky, conductor) - 6 March 2014 (ABA 2014 Annual Convention (Montgomery, Alabama))
  • Boerne-Samuel V. Champion High School Symphonic Honors Band (Kevin Arnott, conductor) - 5 April 2012


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

  • David Gillingham website
  • Miles, Richard B., and Larry Blocher. (2010). Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 1. Chicago: GIA Publications. pp. 833-839.
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