Hopak Raskolniki

David Holsinger

General Info

Year: 1980
Duration: c. 4:18
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: C.L. Barnhouse Company
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $90.00 | Score Only (print) - $8.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute
Oboe
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
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Piano
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

Bass Drum
Bells
Chimes
Cowbell
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tambourine
Timpani
Tom-toms (4)
Triangle
Wood Block

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

This work was only Holsinger's second composition for concert band. The inspiration comes from the composer's reading of the life of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and his dealings with the Council of Old Believers, known as 'Raskolniki'.The work begins with an ostinato in the low reeds, euphonium, piano and xylophone. This melodic motif permeates throughout the work. As with this composer's oeuvre, the music is fast paced with numerous meter changes.

This was only my second composition for concert band (circa 1980), but its use of layered lines over fluctuating time signatures and the use of metric modulation near the end of the piece was a vast departure from my first publication and a significant leap (at least for me) in establishing what has become my "style" of composition. For those who seek to find great "spiritual dimension" to the title, I'm afraid I shall have to disappoint you ... The title actually comes from this composer's readings of the life of Russian composer, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.

In the 1880s he was instrumental in a movement among Russian composers and musicians to turn from the extreme nationalistic tradition and create a new "style" of music based on broader, more eclectic methods and resources. One account I perused mentioned his artistic struggle with the Council of Old Believers, the "Raskolniki" ... I was immediately taken with the phrase and this "Russian Dance for the Raskolniki" was born!

(I will be quick to admit that my "hopak form" is totally unconventional, completely removed from the original dance form, and used in the title by way of poetic license! This admission hereby excuses my liability to the "closet" Russian Musicology fringe-groups found among band audiences far and wide!)

- Program Note by composer

Media

Audio: Reference recording. The Washington Winds (Edward S. Petersen, conductor)
Audio CD: Rutgers Wind Ensemble (William Berz, conductor) – 2011
Audio CD: The Washington Winds (Edward S. Petersen, conductor) – 2010
Audio CD: Lamar University Symphonic Band (Barry Johnson, conductor) – 1995

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Lee University (Cleveland, Tenn.) Wind Ensemble (Maria Hunt, conductor) – 19 February 2019
West Virginia State University (Institute) Wind Ensemble (Scott E. Woodard, conductor) – 9 December 2010

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 (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
Perusal score