Spangled Heavens

Donald Grantham

General Info

Year: 2010
Duration: c. 11:35
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Piquant Press
Cost: Score and Parts - $175.00 | Score (Purchase) - Unknown

Movements

1. Holy Manna - 3:00
2. Restoration - 3:55
3. Sweet Canaan - 4:05

Instrumentation

Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra-Alto 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
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I–II-III, including:

Bass Drum
Cymbals (suspended)
Glockenspiel (or Orchestra Bells)
Marimba (five-octave if available)
Snare Drum
Triangle
Tubular Bells (or Chimes)
Vibraphone
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Spangled Heavens is another in a series of the composer's works based on shape note music. In three movements, the first movement is based on Holy Manna, and features three contrasting presentations of the tune. The first appearance is in F major, the second in A-flat major, and the third is a bi-tonal presentation combining the two keys, with F prevailing at the end. The second movement is based on Restoration. It begins with a freely composed melody that soon yields to the shape note tune. The movement concludes with the freely composed melody - in its original and a transposed version - used as a passacaglia accompaniment for the shape note melody. Movement three employs two contrasting but complementary songs: Sweet Canaan and Saints Bound for Heaven. The two tunes alternate throughout the movement, with a modulation upward at each new occurrence. The work ends with a combination of the two melodies.

Spangled Heavens was commissioned by the Hill Country Middle School Symphonic Band, Austin, Texas; Cheryl Floyd and Chuck Fischer, directors.

-Program Note by composer

Media

Audio CD: Texas A&M University Wind Symphony (Paula Crider, conductor) - 2010

State Ratings

Texas: IV

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of Colorado Boulder Symphonic Band (Matthew Dockendorf, conductor) - 9 February 2023
Michigan State University (East Lansing) Concert Band (Arris Golden, conductor) - 12 October 2022
Purdue University (West Lafayette, Ind.) Collegiate Band (David M. Blon, conductor) - 18 February 2022
East Carolina University (Greenville, S.C.) Symphonic Band (Michael Lewis, conductor) - 30 September 2021
Henderson State University (Arkadelphia, Ark.) Wind Ensemble (Steven M. Knight, conductor) – 1 March 2018
Texas Community College Band Directors Association (TCCBDA) Symphonic Band (Derrick Logozzo, conductor) - 17 February 2018 (2018 TMEA Conference, San Antonio)
Spartan Youth Wind Symphony (East Lansing, Mich.) (Simon Holoweiko) – 3 December 2017
University of Texas, Arlington, Wind Symphony (Douglas Stotter, conductor) – 22 September 2017
Penn State University (University Park) Symphonic Band (Corey Pompey, conductor) – 2 March 2017
Penn State University (University Park) Concert Band (Carter Biggers, conductor) – 29 February 2015
University of Miami (Fla.) Frost Symphonic Winds (Robert Carnachan, conductor) – 1 October 2015
University of California, Los Angeles, Symphonic Band (Ian Richard, conductor) - 10 March 2015
Okemos High School (Grand Rapids, Mich.) Wind Ensemble - 21 January 2015
Texas A&M University (College Station) Wind Symphony (Paula Crider, conductor) – 18 December 2010 (2010 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

After Hafiz (2016)
Amber Sky
Baron Cimetiere's Mambo (2004)
Baron Piquant on Pointe (2011)
Baron La Croix's Shuffle (2007)
Baron Samedi's Sarabande (and Soft Shoe) (2005)
Bum's Rush (1994)
Chant and Hymn for Our Lady
Circa 1600 (2018)
Cloudless Day, Bitter Sky (2002)
"Come Memory..." (2002)
Concerto in One Movement for Bass Trombone (1979)
Court Music (2005)
Don't You See? (2001)
Effulgent Light (2017)
Exhilaration and Cry (2008)
Fantasy on "In Dulci Jubilo" (2015)
Fantasy on "La Golondrina" (2003)
Fantasy on Mr. Hyde's Song (1998)
Fantasy Variations (1927/1998)
Farewell to Gray (2001)
Fayetteville Bop (2002)
From "An Alabama Songbook" (2007)
- Honey in the Rock (2008)
JS Dances (2003)
J'ai été au bal (1999)
Kentucky Harmony (2000)
Let Evening Come (Grantham) (2014)
Lone Star Twister (2008)
Music for the Blanton (2006)
Northern Celebration (2001)
Phantasticke Spirites (2002)
Shenandoah (2017)
Southern Harmony (1998)
- Wondrous Love (2008)
Sol y Sombra (2014)
Spangled Heavens (2010)
Starry Crown (2007)
Symphony for Winds and Percussion (2009)
- Stomp (Grantham) (2009)
Summer of 2008 (2008)
Thunderbird
Trumpet Gloria (2006)
Tuba Concerto (Grantham) (2012)
An Uneasy Mrch
Variations on an American Cavalry Song (2001)
What Comes Around... (2017)
A Winter Sky (2022)

Resources

Donald Grantham website (Piquant Press)
Schallert, Gary. "Spangled Heavens." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 9, edit. & comp. by Richard Miles, 404-415. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2013.