Requiem for the Unarmed

From Wind Repertory Project
Kevin Day

Kevin Day


General Info

Year: 2020 / 2022
Duration: c. 9:25
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Murphy Music Press
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $150.00   |   Score Only (print) - $35.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III-IV
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass 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-III-IV
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Celeste (or Piano)
Timpani
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Chimes
  • Glockenspiel
  • Marimba
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tom-tom

Players marching and humming


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

On May 25, 2020, Minneapolis resident George Floyd was murdered by police officers, one of which had a knee on his neck, cutting off all oxygen to his brain. Floyd's last words, the same words used by Eric Garner in 2014, echo across the United States and through the word [sic].

"I. can't. breathe."

Seeing the footage of his murder on television, my heart sank and I felt incredibly sick to my stomach. I couldn't believe what I had witnessed, and it took me weeks to process what had transpired. Someone who looks like me was just murdered in cold blood by law enforcement. I can recall the many people that also look like me that were murdered in similar fashion, both by law enforcement and by civilians with racist intent. Their names became social media hashtags, and ring in the hearts of every black man, woman, and child in the United States.

Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Philando Castile, Treyvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, Atatiana Jefferson, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd…

A growing list of names. The unarmed black victims of racial injustice.

Too many names to count.

Requiem for the Unarmed is my musical response to the death of George Floyd and to black lives lost due to racial injustice in the United States. This piece is meant to be a memorial to those lives lost and is my plea and prayer.

May this happen no more.

- Program Note by composer


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

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Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources