Uncommon Valor

Stephen Bulla

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Subtitle: Images of Iwo Jima

General Info

Year: 1995
Duration: c. 9:35
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Brass choir
Publisher: Unknown
Cost: Score and Parts - Unknown

Movements (played without pause)

1. Prologue: Lento lamentoso
2. Approach by Sea: Allegretto
3. Chorale Prayer: Adagio
4. Engagement: Presto marcato

Instrumentation

B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion (4 players)

(percussion detail desired)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Uncommon Valor: Images of Iwo Jima was written to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, which took place during World War II and was a significant event in the history of the United States Marine Corps. The composition received its first performance on February 18, 1995, by the brass choir of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band at the Washington National Cathedral.

The work is divided into four programmatic sections, portraying the quiet anticipation before conflict, the arduous journey to the scene of battle, a time of introspection and prayer (the hymn tune Melita, or Eternal Father, Strong to Save, is featured in this section), and finally ending with the hostile confrontation. There are frequent references to The Marines’ Hymn and The Star-Spangled Banner, particularly in the closing bars depicting the Marines raising the American flag on the island, signifying the historic conclusion to the conflict.

- Program Note from United States Marine Band concert program, 23 February 2020

Media

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of Kansas (Lawrence) Concert Brass & Percussion (Sharon Toulouse, conductor) - 12 October 2020
United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Bryan P. Sherlock, conductor) – 23 February 2020

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adirondack Festival Overture (2014)
Andante con Moto (as arranger) (1816/2003)
Bells of Christmas (1999)
Blue Mountain Saga (1995)
Bond, James Bond (as arranger)
Cartoon Capers (as arranger) (2000)
Celestial Suite (1989)
Christmas Calypso (1997)
Cole Porter Songbook (as arranger)
Declaration for Trumpet
Ellington! (as arranger) (2019)
Escapades (as transcriber) (2002/2012)
Euphonium Fantasia
Excerpts from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (as arranger) (1978/2009)
Fascinating Rhythm (as arranger) (1924)
Firestorm (1992)
Heather Ridge Sketches (2000)
The Imperial March (as arranger) (1980/2008)
Irish Lullaby, An
Irish Songs, Set No 1 (as arranger)
Irish Songs, Set No 2 (as arranger) (2004)
Legend of Knife River (1997)
Legends of Jazz (as arranger) (2012)
Library of Congress March, The (as arranger)
Mambo Greats (as arranger) (2013)
Mancini! (as arranger) (2000?)
March Creole (1995)
North Bridge Portrait (2001)
Of Ancient Dances (2015)
Pride of a People (as arranger)
Rhapsody for Flute (1996)
Rhapsody for Hanukkah (1994)
Russian Carol Variations (1999)
The Schumann Suite (as arranger) (1997)
Selections from "Into the Woods" (as arranger)
Selections from "The Great Race" (as arranger)
Selections from ''Sweeney Todd'' (as arranger) (1979/2009)
Shipston Prelude (2000)
Sinatra! (as arranger) (2011)
Slavonic Fantasy (as arranger)
Sondheim! (as arranger) (2021)
Stephen Foster Songbook (as arranger) (1999)
Symphonette (2003)
Symphonic Highlights from "Frozen" (as arranger) (2013)
Tiger Rag (as adapter)
Tribute to Louis Armstrong (as arranger)
Trilogy Americana (2002)
Uncommon Valor (1995)
Wade in the Water (as arranger) (2001)
Winterfest (as arranger) (2002)
Yankee Doodle (as arranger) (1845/)

Resources

Stephen Bulla website Accessed 15 September 2020