On an American Spiritual

David Holsinger

General Info

Year: 1991
Duration: c. 3:40
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: TRN Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $65.00 | Score Only (print) - $10.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute/Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium/Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III

Bar Chimes
Bass Drum
Bells
Gong
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Triangle
Xylophone

Errata

All, m.1: Correct tempo is Quarter Note = ca. 80
Horn in F I-II, m.25-26: Missing two measure crescendo
Horn in F I-II, m.27: Should have an "sfz" attack
Horn in F I-II, m.76: Pitches should be: B-B-A-A, in the first horn and G#-G#-E-E, in the second horn

Program Notes

In Holsinger's Hymnsong Series, the listener may notice that On An American Spiritual is a surprising departure from his previous hymnsong compositions. We expect the plaintive opening ("Were you there when they crucified my Lord? . . .") and majestic closing portions ("Were you there when He rose up from the dead? . . ."), but the chaotic, brutal nature of the center section would seem greatly out of place until one reminds oneself of the lyrics of this Easter lament, where the center verses recount how they nailed Him to a tree and laid Him in the grave. With this in mind, we realize that Holsinger has composed a variation very dependent on extramusical events (the traditional verses) for inspiration and understanding.

- Program Note from publisher

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: Concordia College Wind Symphony (Richard Fischer, conductor) - 1993

State Ratings

Alabama: Class B
Georgia: IV
Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP III
Kansas: IV
Michigan: Senior High B
Minnesota: II
Mississippi: V-A
New York: Concert Band IV
North Carolina: IV
Oklahoma: IIII-A
South Carolina: IV
Tennessee: IV
Virginia: IV

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Bethel University (St. Paul, Minn.) Wind Symphony (Steven Thompson) - 29 October 2022
University Wind Ensemble of Concordia University (Seward, Neb.) (Andrew Schultz, conductor) – 25 March 2018
Concordia University (Seward, Neb.) Symphonic Band (Andrew Schultz, conductor) – 17 October 2017
Dalton-Whitfield Community Band (Tunnel Hill, Ga.) (David Holsinger, conductor) – 18 April 2017
Illiana Christian High School (Lansing, Ill.) (Brian Covey, conductor) – 28 April 2016
Potsdam (New York) Community Band (Theresa Witmer, conductor) – 17 January 2016
Illiana Christian High School (Lansing, Ill.) Wind Ensemble (Patricia Menninga, conductor) – 7 May 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
Holsinger, D. (1991). On an American Spiritual [score]. TRN Music Publisher: [s.l.]