In Lonely Fields

In Lonely Fields2017-03-10T18:19:37+00:00

Project Description

Solo Percussion and Chamber Orchestra
1997
14 min.

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Preview Score

Instrumentation

Solo Perc-2 | Fl Ob(»EH) BbCl Bsn | Hn Tpt(in C) Tbn | Vln Vla Vcl DB | Perc-5

  • Solo Percussion 1
    • Vibraphone
  • Solo Percussion 2
    • Marimba
    • Wood Block
    • Very Small Shaker
    • Practice Pad
  • Flute
  • Oboe (dbl. English Horn)
  • Clarinet in B
  • Bassoon
  • Horn
  • Trumpet in C
  • Trombone
  • Violin
  • Viola
  • Cello
  • Double Bass
  • Required Percussion (5 players)
    • Vibraphone
    • Log Drum
    • Tenor Drum (2)
    • Slap Stick
    • Tambourine
    • Bass Drum
    • Suspended Cymbal (2 sm, 1 med, 3 lg)
    • Shaker (2 very small)
    • Practice Pad
    • Congas
    • Tam-tam
    • Maraca
    • Triangle
    • Cabasa
    • Timpani
    • Crash Cymbals (2 sm)
    • Wood Block (2)
    • Crotales (cello or bass bow)
    • Bongos
    • Tom-toms (3 sm, 1 lg)
    • Gong (med)
    • Chimes
    • Marimba
    • Bamboo Rain Tree
    • Orchestra Bells

In Memoriam

Bradley J. Lowman

Commissioned By

“In Lonely Fields” was commissioned by Robert and Mary Sue Lowman in memory of their son, and is dedicated to them, their family, and friends.

Program Note

The title “In Lonley Fields” arises out of many solitary walks in the fields and mountains near my home in western Montana. During such walks a progressive meditation developed on the life force of Bradley Lowman – on its urges and lively sense of itself, its need for resolution and movement, and on the needs of family and friends who have been left behind. I hope that this musical statement will in some way be part of that resolution.

The music has formed itself around three hymn times from the “371 Chorales” by J.S. Bach, a collection which has been the focus of my personal study for many years. The tree melodies in order of appearance are “Christ ist erstanden” (“Christ has risen”), “Herr Gott, dich loben wir” (“Lord God, we praise you”), and “Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist” (“Now we ask the Holy Spirit”). These are woven into the musical fabric of my composition and serve as structural supports for the span of the piece. The first suggests that life is forever, the second that in all things is the presence and hand of God, the third that the spirit of highest love arises out of deepest grief and loss.

“In Lonely Fields” was commissioned by Robert and Mary Sue Lowman in memory of their son, and is dedicated to them, their family, and friends.

Program note by David Maslanka

Further Reading

From the Maslanka Archive – No. 35, Damon Talley’s Interview of David

27 August 2020|0 Comments

From the Maslanka Archive features media and stories of David's life and work. This week, we are excited to feature one of David's very last interviews. In April of 2017, Damon Talley - Director of Bands at LSU - had the opportunity to sit down with David and discuss Symphony No. 4 during a residency with the LSU Wind Ensemble.

From the Maslanka Archive – No. 28, David in Rehearsal with Mike Fansler and the WIU Wind Ensemble

9 July 2020|0 Comments

From the Maslanka Archive features media and stories of David's life and work. This week, we are excited to feature a video of David in rehearsal with Mike Fansler and the Western Illinois University Wind Ensemble from December 2011. The rehearsal footage captures an amazing realization of the "Doxology" from Symphony No. 4.

Maslanka Weekly: Best of the Web – No. 106, Dances

30 June 2020|0 Comments

Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature three compositions in which David experiments with dance forms: Montana Music: Three Dances for Percussion, Concerto for Clarinet and Wind Ensemble, and Concerto No. 2 for Piano and Wind Ensemble.

From the Maslanka Archive – No. 26, Joseph Lulloff Performs Saxophone Concerto in Lucerne

25 June 2020|0 Comments

From the Maslanka Archive features media and stories of David's life and work. This week, we are excited to feature a classic performance of the Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble with Gregg Hanson leading Joseph Lulloff, Alto Saxophone and the University of Arizona Wind Ensemble from the 2001 World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) Conference.