An American Tapestry
(fl, ob, cl, bsn, alto sax, tenor sax, 2 horns, trp, trb, tba) 6'45"
(Order from Boosey & Hawkes or music retailer)
Players from high school through professional have enjoyed the unique instrumentation and colorful harmonies that enliven this medley of folk songs.
Listen (mp3, 9.2 MB; Ithaca College Wind Ensemble; Stephen Peterson conducting)
Composer's Notes:
Commissioned in 2003 by a consortium of ten Minnesota high schools, this work for chamber winds is a continuous medley of three American folk tunes: The Girl I Left Behind Me, She's Gone Away and Ol' Dan Tucker. It was performed by all of the schools in the spring and fall of 2003, and I was fortunate to conduct several of the performances. Since publication in the Windependence Series (Boosey & Hawkes), the piece has become quite popular and is on many repertoire lists for chamber wind music.