I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold

James M. David

General Info

Year: 2017
Duration: c. 9:50
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Murphy Music Press
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $175.00 | Score Only (print) - $50.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon (or Contrabass Clarinet)
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III-IV
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba I-II
String Bass
Piano
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V-VI, including:

Bass Drums (2: small and concert)
Bongos
Chimes
China Cymbals
Crash Cymbals
Crotales
Glockenspiel
Marimba
Sizzle Cymbal
Splash Cymbal
Suspended Cymbals (3: small, medium and large)
Tambourine (mounted)
Tam-Tam (medium)
Tom-Tom
Triangle (large)
Vibraphone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

My newest work for wind symphony is based on the iconic painting "I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold" by Charles Demuth. Considered to be a seminal work of modern art that led towards cubism, the painting has an incredibly bold and striking design that draws the viewer inwards. The painting itself is similarly inspired by a work from a different medium: William Carlos Williams' poem The Great Figure which describes a fire engine hurtling down a busy city street.

In my work, I have tried to use abstract techniques to create a bold work in the vein of the original painting. The number five is expressed in many different ways including the prevalence of perfect fifths, rhythmic techniques based on the number five, and an adaptation of Bartok's five-part arch form. The work uses literal text painting by emphasizing brass, saxophone, and bell timbres throughout. While largely lyrical in nature, the movement builds to an energetic allegro concluding with a massive choral finale.

- Program Note by composer

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: University of Northern Iowa Wind Ensemble (Danny Galyen, conductor)

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Augustana University (Sioux Falls, S.D.) Band (Christopher Unger, conductor) - 12 February 2021
University of Southern Mississippi (Hattisburg) Wind Ensemble (Catherine Rand, conductor) – 20 February 2019 (CBDNA 2019 National Conference, Tempe, Ariz.)
University of Southern Mississippi (Hattisburg) Wind Ensemble (Catherine Rand, conductor) – 16 November 2018

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Lookfar (Adaptable Band) (2020)
March Tumbao (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Menlo Park, 1879 (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Zephyrus (Flex instrumentation) (2019)

All Wind Works

All Dark Is Now No More (2014)
Auto '66 (2011)
Big Four on the River (2014)
Bright Window (2005)
Codex Gigas. See: Symphony No. 1
Dymaxion (2021)
Flying Jewels (2021)
From the Shaken Tower: Symphony for Percussion and Winds (2014)
Ghosts of the Old Year (2016)
Heartland Verses (2019)
I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold (2017)
Lookfar (Adaptable Band) (2020)
March Tumbao (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Menlo Park, 1879 (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Message from Arecibo (2023)
Octarine Spark (2009)
Pavillons en L'Air (2009)
Sinfonietta No 1 (2004)
Sinfonietta No 3: "Strange and Mysterious Waters" (2010)
Swing Landscape (2018)
Symphony No. 1 (2020)
Tesseract (2023)
Three Summits (2023)
Troublesome Fire (2022)
Two-Lane Blacktop (2013)
Urban Light (2021)
With Soul Serene (2019)
Zephyrus (Flex instrumentation) (2019)

Resources

James David website Accessed 17 November 2018
Perusal score