Variants on a Moravian Hymn

From Wind Repertory Project
James Barnes

James Barnes


Subtitle: Morning Star, O Cheering Sight.

This work bears the designation Opus 82.


General Info

Year: 1992
Duration: c. 9:00
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Keiser Southern Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $169.95   |   Score Only (print) - $25.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
Condensed Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II-III
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra Alto Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass 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-III
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Synthesizer
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Castanet
  • Claves
  • Crash Cymbal
  • Glockenspiel
  • Ratchet
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tambourine
  • Tam-tam
  • Tom-tom
  • Triangle
  • Tubular Bells
  • Vibraphone
  • Woodblock
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

This work was commissioned by the Freedom High School Band to celebrate the 250th anniversary of that school's hometown: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Realizing that Bethlehem was in the very center of the many settlements of Moravian Baptists who founded this city, the composer searched for some sort of musical identity that would be appropriate, and found an obscure, but very beautiful, Moravian Christmas hymn entitled Morning Star, O Cheering Sight. Instead of composing a normal "theme and variations" based on this hymn, Barnes opted to save the tune in its entirety until the very end when introduced by a trombone choir, so it is essentially a "variations and theme". The instrumentation was chosen because the Moravians are most famous for their wonderful trombone choirs accompanying the singing in their church services.

- Program Note adapted from publisher


Media


State Ratings

  • Alabama: Class BB
  • Georgia: V
  • Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP I
  • North Carolina: VI
  • South Carolina: V
  • Tennessee: V
  • Virginia: V
  • Wisconsin: Event 3000 Concert Band Class A


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project


Works for Winds by this Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

  • Barnes, J. (1993). Variants on a Moravian Hymn: Morning Star, O Cheering Sight [score]. Southern Music Co.: San Antonio, Tx.