Postwar Prelude
Clifton Williams (ed. Thomas Stone)
General Info
Year: 1943 / 2012
Duration: c. 3:50
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Maestro and Fox Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $67.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:
- Bass Drum
- Crash Cymbals
- Snare Drum
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
To my friend Willard I. Shepherd.
- Program Note from score
Written in three days and completed on April 19, 1943, Postwar Prelude was the first composition that the then-Corporal James Clifton Williams scored for the 307th Army Air Corps Band, stationed at Selman Field in Monroe, La. This work became the inspiration for the first All-Williams Concert at the Selman Field Service Club on November 24, 1944.
The piece is a short lyrical tone poem, with lush harmonies and many tension-and-release moments. The title, Postwar Prelude, is both oxymoronic and hopeful. The piece is a prelude to a postwar America that is still two years away. The character of the composition is tender and reflective. The contrasting marcato middle section seems to convey the energy and tension that a war can bring to a country. The returning lyrical section provides the release of that tension by recapitulating themes presented in the opening section of the work.
In the midst of World War II in 1943, the United States was fighting wars on the Pacific and European fronts, and the outcome was still uncertain. While the piece certainly is not joyful, it is reflective and promising in the hope of peace.
- Program Note from Teaching Music Through Performance in Band
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Northwest Wind Symphony (Centralia, Wash.) (Dan Schmidt, conductor) - 21 January 2023
- New Jersey City University Symphony of Winds and Percussion (Patrick Burns, conductor) – 14 November 2017
Works for Winds by This Composer
Adaptable Music
- Variation Overture (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Barber) (1962/2021)
All Wind Works
- Academic Procession (1961)
- Air Force Band of the West March (1965)
- Anitra's Tanz (as arranger) (1875/1965)
- Arioso (1958)
- Caccia and Chorale (1976)
- Castle Gap (1964)
- Concertino (1960)
- Dedicatory Overture (1964)
- Dramatic Essay (1958)
- Fanfare and Allegro (1956)
- Festival (1962)
- The Hermitage (1976)
- Hill Country Ballad (1953)
- Killian March (1968)
- Laredo (1964)
- March Lamar (1966)
- Pandéan Fable (1970)
- Pastorale (1957)
- The Patriots (1970)
- Postwar Prelude (1943/2012)
- The Ramparts (1967)
- The Sinfonians (1960)
- A Solemn Fugue (1958)
- Sonata Allegro (1949/2012)
- Songs of Heritage (1976/1999)
- Strategic Air Command (1964)
- Symphonic Dance No. 1, "Comanche Ritual" (tr. McBeth) (1965/2013)
- Symphonic Dance No. 2, "The Maskers" (1964/1968)
- Symphonic Dance No. 3, "Fiesta" (1964/1967)
- Symphonic Dance No. 4, "Square Dance"
- Symphonic Dance No. 5, "New Generation" (1965/2013)
- Symphonic Essays (1963/2013)
- Symphonic Suite (1956)
- Variation Overture (1962)
- Variation Overture (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Barber) (1962/2021)
Resources
- Perusal score
- Suk, Richard. "Postwar Prelude." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 9, edit. & comp. by Richard Miles, 206-212. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2013.