National Spirit March
Silas Hummel (arr. Harris)
General Info
Year: 1917
Duration: c. 3:05
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hummel
Cost: Score and Parts – Out of print.
For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.
Instrumentation
D-flat Piccolo
Oboe
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet Solo-I-II
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet Solo-I-II-III
E-flat Horn or Alto I-II-III-IV
Tenor Horn I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III-IV
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion, including:
- Bass Drum
- Bells
- Crash Cymbals
- Snare Drum
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
National Spirit March was composed in 1917, the same year that the United States entered the First World War. It quickly became popular as a parade march for military reviews as well as a patriotic feature for civilian band concerts,
After opening with a descending chromatic passage and a cymbal and bass drum solo, the march follows a format which was rather usual for the time: a 16-bar first strain, which is repeated; a 32-bar second strain which is also repeated; a four-bar introduction, featuring a drum solo, at the beginning of the trio; a 32-bar legato passage, played softly; a fortissimo 16-bar break strain, featuring the low brasses; and a final 32-bar section, also performed fortissimo, which combines some of the rhythmic and melodic features heard during the earlier strains of the march.
- Program Note from March Music Notes
Hummel's National Spirit is the more popular of his two known marches and was played frequently at Liberty Bond rallies during World War I. It bears a strong resemblance to W. Paris Chambers' Chicago Tribune, perhaps as an expression of Hummel's esteem for his former teacher.
- Program Note from Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music
Commercial Discography
- Audio CD: U.S. Army Band - 2005
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- United States Army Ceremonial Band (Ft. Myer, Va.) (Timothy J. Holtan, conductor) – 12 February 2017
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Imprimis March (arr. Harris) (1917)
- National Spirit March (arr. Harris) (1917)
Resources
- Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Silas Erly Hummel." Accessed 12 February 2017
- Hummel, S.; Harris, H. (1917). National Spirit March [score]. S.E. Hummel: Philadelphia, Penn.
- Smith, Norman E. (1986). March Music Notes. Lake Charles, La.: Program Note Press, pp. 214.