Homage: Three Tapestries

David Holsinger

General Info

Year: 1999
Duration: c. 9:00
Difficulty: IV 1/2 (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: TRN Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $90.00 | Score Only (print) - $12.00

Movements

1. Tapestry One – 2:25
2. Tapestry Two – 3:15
3. Tapestry Three – 2:50

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
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 Cornet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

Bar Chimes
Bass Drum
Crash Cymbals
Marimba
Orchestra Chimes
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tenor Drum
Tubular Bells
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

I was asked by Kenny Bierschenk to compose a piece for his band that would to a large extent based on themes found in the great liturgical musical wealth of the Roman Catholic Church. Kenny, himself, suggested one such hymn chant that he remembered as one of the most beautiful songs sung in his boyhood church in Weatherford, Texas.

The first movement of this three-part tapestry is based on a melody I heard sung at a local cathedral in Kathowice, Poland, on one of my trips to that country in the early 90s. I had stepped out of my host's home to walk about a square close by. I was drawn to this large church because I heard what sounded like a men's chorus singing. It was in fact only a small robed group of men obviously practicing in an alcove of the hall. I don't know the name of the melody, and what I have written is more a vague remembrance of the tune, but it impressed me as being a very "strong" melody and I think I have come close to its ambiance.

The second movement is based on a theme by Thomas Aquinas (1227-74) entitled Pange Lingua. This is the melody Mr. Bierschenk remembered as Praise We Christ's Immortal Body. In 1966, when I was a 19-year-old college junior, Václav Nelhýbel came to our school to guest conduct over a three-day tour in western Missouri. Three concerts a day he conducted Trittico (Nelhybel) and his Chorale. He was a mad man on the podium. His eye blazed with energy. His baton was like a sabre, slashing the air, tearing the wind with his music. at the end of the three days ... at the close of the final concert ... as the audience finally departed and my colleagues left the stage, I sat alone in my section, physically exhausted, mentally drained, and emotionally spent. And I wept... knowing that in those few days, I had discovered what was to become the musical passion of my life ... I was to compose.

The third movement is based partly on the medieval Bohemian chorale to King Wenceslaus used as source material by Nelybel in several of his most passionate works. I have written Homage: Three Tapestries in a compositional genre directly alluding to the style of Václav Nelhýbel. I do this, not to copy, but to praise. I do this to say Thank You for the inspiration he gave a generation of musicians like myself.

- Program Note by composer

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Fresno (Calif.) State University Wind Ensemble (Lawrence R. Sutherland, conductor)
Audio CD: Rutgers University Wind Ensemble - 1998

State Ratings

Alabama: Class A
Tennessee: VI
Virginia: VI

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Lee University (Cleveland, Tenn.) Wind Ensemble (David Holsinger, conductor) – 16 March 2016
Northeast Oklahoma Band Directors Association (NBDA) Wind Ensemble (Joseph H. Allison, conductor) – 2014

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
- Cityscape I (Festive Hours Neon Night) (2001)
- Cityscape II (Lonely Hours Anguished Night) (2004)
- Cityscape III (Morning Hours Salvation Light) (2008)
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 (2002)
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)
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)
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
Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "David Holsinger." Accessed 28 March 2016.
Holsinger, D. (1997). Homage: Three Tapesties [score]. TRN Music: Ruidoso, N.M.