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Starry Crown
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Contents
General Info
Year: 2007
Duration: c. 14:30
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Piquant Press
Cost: Score and Parts (Rental) - $300.00 | Score (Purchase) - $45.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
Eb Soprano Clarinet
Bb Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
Bb Bass Clarinet
Bb Contrabass Clarinet
Soprano Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpet (in Bb) I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III-IV
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Timpani
Percussion I–II-III-IV, including:
- Bass Drum
- Cymbal (crash and suspended)
- Glockenspiel
- Gong (Tam-tam)
- Snare Drum (2)
- Tambourine
- Triangle
- Tubular Bells (Chimes)
- Vibraphone
- Wind Chimes (metal)
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Grantham provides the following notes about Starry Crown in the work’s preface:
Starry Crown is based on gospel music of the 1920s and 1930s from the Deep South -- a style sometimes referred to as ‘gutbucket’ gospel because of its raw, earthy and primitive character. Three authentic tunes are used in this work: Some of These Days, Oh Rocks, Don’t Fall on Me!, and When I Went Down in the Valley. The title of this work was derived from a textual reference in the latter song:
When I went down to the valley to pray,
Studyin’ about that good ol’ way
And who will wear that starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way
These songs are used at the beginning and end of the piece. The middle of the work recreates the atmosphere of the call-and-response sermons typical of this period. The preacher (represented by three trombones, then the rest of the brass section) make declamatory statements that the rest of the congregation (represented by the rest of the ensemble) responds to. The exchanges become quicker and quicker until finally all join together in a very fast and exuberant chorus.
- Program Note from State University of New York, Fredonia, Wind Symphony concert program, 23 February 2017
Commercial Discography
- Audio CD: University of Texas Wind Ensemble (Jerry F. Junkin, conductor) - 2013
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge) Wind Ensemble (Damon Talley, conductor) – 29 September 2019
- Oklahoma State University (Stillwater) Wind Ensemble (Joseph Missal, conductor) – 8 November 2018
- Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.) Symphonic Band (Shawn Vondran, conductor) – 1 December 2017
- State University of New York, Fredonia, Wind Symphony (Paula Holcomb, conductor) – 23 February 2017
- University of Michigan Concert Band (Courtney Snyder, conductor) – 7 October 2015
Works for Winds by this Composer
- After Hafiz (2016)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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 (Grantham) (2009)
- Stomp (Grantham) (2009)
- Trumpet Gloria (2006)
- Tuba Concerto (Grantham) (2012)
- Variations on an American Cavalry Song (2001)
- What Comes Around (2017)
Resources
- Donald Grantham website
- Lourens, Alan. "Starry Crown MBM Times, Issue 6 (2012), 62.
