Novena

James Swearingen

Subtitle: Rhapsody for Band

General Info

Year: 1980
Duration: c. 5:40
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: C L Barnhouse
Cost: Score & Parts - $60.00 | Score Only - $5.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon
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
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Bass Drum
Bells (or Glockenspiel)
Chimes (or Tubular Bells)
Crash Cymbals
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tambourine
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

From the sensitive opening to the forceful climax, this composition displays the same successful qualities of previous works by this outstanding composer.

Novena was commissioned by and is dedicated to Rob Hennell and the Antwerp High School Concert Band, Antwerp, Ohio.

- Program Note from publisher

Considered by many to be Swearingen’s finest composition, Novena has enjoyed tremendous popularity among school directors and students performers throughout the world. Written and premiered in 1980, this work was commissioned by and dedicated to Rob Hennell and the Antwerp High School Concert Band, Antwerp, Ohio.

The word "novena" comes from the Roman Catholic Church and is a devotion consisting of prayers or services on nine consecutive days. The reflective adagio section, introduced by chimes, features piccolo, solo clarinet and solo alto saxophone over a sustained pedal point of concert Bb. A brief interlude in G major is introduced, followed by a return to the main theme. The percussionists provide the link to the eagerly anticipated allegro section. Powerful brass, lyrical woodwinds and driving percussion give the second half of this composition the touch of musical excitement we have come to expect from this outstanding composer.

- Program Note from The Desert Winds concert program, 17 December 2016

Media

Audio CD: The Desert Winds (Charles A. Maguire, conductor) – 2016
Audio CD: Naniwa Orchestra Winds (Akio Marutani, conductor) – 2012

State Ratings

Alabama: Class C
Arkansas: II
Georgia: III
Indiana: ISSMA JUNIOR BAND GROUP I
Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP III
Kansas: III
Maryland: III
Michigan: Senior High A
Minnesota: III
New York: Concert Band IV
North Carolina: III
South Carolina: III
Tennessee: IV
Virginia: IV

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

San Luis Obispo (Calif.) County Band (Leonard Lutz, conductor) - 29 April 2018
The Desert Winds (Las Vegas, Nev.) (Erik Jannerse, conductor) - 17 December 2016 (2016 Midwest Clinic)
Pomona (Calif.) Concert Band (Kerry Kline, conductor) – 4 August 2016
Three Oaks Senior High (Summerside, PEI) Grade 10-12 Concert Band (David Voye, Conductor) - May 1981

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Romanesque (Flex instrumentation) (1982/2020)

All Wind Works

Above and Beyond (2011)
Air of Nobility (2009)
Aces of the Air (as arranger) (1942/2011)
All Glory Told (1995)
Allied Honor (as arranger) (1955/1989)
Amazing Grace
America the Beautiful (as arranger) (1882/2006)
An American Portrait (1998)
And the Angels Called (2005)
And the Herald Angels Sang (2001)
As Seasons Change
As the Eagle Flies (2005)
Ashford Variations (1992)
Ashton Overture (1982)
Aventura (1984)
Baywood Overture (1991)
Be Still My Soul (as arranger) (1900/2016)
Beautiful Savior (2003)
Beyond the Darkness (2013)
Big Four (as arranger) (1955/2002)
Blue Ridge Saga (1990)
The Blues (2008)
Brookpark Overture (1983)
Bunker Hill (as arranger) (1943/2018)
Bunker Hill Overture (1994)
But for the Love of Ireland (2014)
Call to Victory (as arranger) (1942/2001)
Can't Help Falling in Love
Carolina Legend (1991)
Celebration and Dance
Celebration and Tribute (2015)
Celebration for Winds and Percussion (1999)
A Celebration Overture (1995)
Centuria (1986)
Chesford Portrait (1982)
Children of the Shrine
A Child's Lullaby (as arranger) (1868/1996)
Chorale Suite (1993)
A Christmas Auld Lang Syne (as arranger) (2004)
A Christmas Classic (1997)
Christmas Classics
Christmas Favorites
A Christmas Wish (1994)
Clark County Celebration (2007)
A Classic Overture (1993)
Coast Guards (as arranger) (1942/1991)
The Cottage on the Lake (2020)
Covington Square (1985)
Crosswinds March (2007)
Crown Him with Many Crowns (1999)
Crunch Time! (2007)
Dawn of a New Day (1992)
Dedication March and Celebration
Deep River (as arranger) (1998)
Denbridge Way (1979)
Didn’t We Almost Have It All
The Distant Castle (2008)
Divinum Mysterium (as arranger) (2009)
Drums Ole (1999)
Eagle Crest
Early American Portrait
Early One Morning
Echoes of Ireland
Eiger (2007)
Emblem of Unity (as arranger) (1941/1988)
English Celebration, An
Entrance of the Tall Ships (2001)
Exaltation (1978)
Excalibur (1992)
Exordium (1996)
The Falling Rain (2006)
A Family Christmas
Fanfare and Jubilee (2002)
Fantasy on an American Classic
Fiesta de los Bravos
A Fireside Christmas
Flight of Valor (2003)
Follow the River (2004)
Freedom City (as arranger) (2017)
Freedom’s Light (1997)
Freedom’s March
A Friend Remembered (2008)
Gallant Marines (as arranger) (1942/2000)
A Gift of Christmas Song (1998)
Grand Canyon Overture
Have Yourself a Merry Little
Heroes and Glory (2007)
High Falls Overture (2000)
Holiday Greetings
How Firm Thy Friendship (1997)
Hymn for a Child (2001)
I'll Be Home for Christmas (as arranger) (1943/1990)
In All Its Glory (1989)
In Quest of Uluru
In the Presence of Heroes (2009)
In the Wake of Spring
In the Winter of 1730
In Times of Triumph
Into the Joy of Spring (2001)
Invicta (1981)
Irving Berlin's Songs for America (as arranger) (1986)
A Jingle Bells Fantasy (as arranger) (1857/2010)
A Joyful Christmas
Jubilance (1997)
Land of Liberty
The Last Rose of Summer (as arranger) (1813/2006)
Lead On, O King Eternal (as arranger) (2000)
Legacy (1996)
The Legend of Danny Boy
Lest We Forget (2001)
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (as arranger) (1945/1994)
Let the Christmas Season Begin! (2008)
Let the Spirit Soar
Liberty
The Light Eternal (1992)
The Light of Dawn
Los Dos Amigos
Majestia (1983)
Make a Joyful Noise
March: Celebration and Glory
March of the Belgian Parachutists (as arranger) (1945/2007)
Mystic River Fantasy
Nightflight (2008)
Nighthawk (2014)
Northpointe Fantasy (1986)
Novena (1980)
O Come, All Ye Faithful (2000)
Of Pride and Celebration (1987)
Of Time and Change (2014)
Oh, My Heart Belongs to Ireland (2018)
Ol' Glory March
On a Cold Winter's Night
On a Winter's Eve
Our Director March (as editor) (1892/2003)
Pageant for Winds (1990)
Panther in the Sky
Park Street Celebration
Prelude and Energico
Prestissimo (as arranger) (1931/2010)
Proud Spirit
Reflections (1984)
Ring in the Joy (1997)
Romanesque (1982)
Romanesque (Flex instrumentation) (1982/2020)
Rough Riders (as arranger) (1943/1996)
Royal Emblem
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
Santa's Early Holiday Arrival
Santa Visits the Caribbean (2005)
A Scottish Portrait (2011)
Seagate Overture (1988)
Silent Night (as arranger) (1818/2008)
Silver Bells
Silvercrest (1986)
A Song of Hope (2002)
The Sounds of Christmas Joy (as arranger) (2002)
Sounds of the Season
Star of Wonder
The Star-Spangled Banner (as arranger) (1814/2005)
Stormy Seas
Tidings of Comfort and Joy
To a New Beginning (2002)
Trails of Glory (1993)
A Tribute to Artie Shaw (as arranger) (1996)
Triumphant Spirit
Two Amigos (1991)
A Vision of Majesty (1998)
Voice of Christmas
The Water Is Wide
Westchester March (1992)
When Kings Go Forth
When Honor Prevails
Where The River Flows
Williamsburg Overture
Winchester Chronicles
Windemere (1990)
Winter Holiday (1991)
With Malice Toward None (2009)
Within These Hallowed Halls (as arranger) (2004)
Wyndham Variations (1987)

Resources

Swearingen, J. (1980). Novena: Rhapsody for Band [score]. C.L. Barnhouse: Oskaloosa, Iowa.