Project Description
Wind Ensemble
1989
13 min.
Listen Now
Dallas Wind Symphony, Jerry Junkin, cond.
On the album Garden of Dreams
Preview Score
Instrumentation
Picc Fl-2 Ob-2 EbCl BbCl-2 BCl CbCl Bsn-2 ASx-2 TSx BSx | Hn-4 Tpt-3(in C) Tbn-3 BTbn Euph Tuba DB | Org Pno Timp Perc-4
- Piccolo
- Flute (2) *
- Oboe (2)
- Clarinet in Eâ™
- Clarinet in Bâ™ (2) *
- Bass Clarinet in Bâ™
- Contrabass Clarinet in Bâ™
- Bassoon (2)
- Alto Saxophone (2)
- Tenor Saxophone
- Baritone Saxophone
- Horn in F (4)
- Trumpet in C (3) **
- Trombone (3)
- Bass Trombone
- Euphonium
- Tuba
- Double Bass
- Organ ***
- Piano
- Timpani
- Required Percussion (4 players)
- Xylophone
- Suspended Cymbal (1 sm, 2 lg)
- Chimes
- Triangle (1 sm, 1 lg)
- Tam Tam (lg)
- Marimba
- Vibraphone
- Xylophone
- Snare Drum (2)
- Glockenspiel (2)
- Bass Drum (2)
- Tom Tom (med)
- Bongo
- Rin (5) (small Japanese tuned gongs – Crotales may be substituted)
- Japanese Temple Gongs (4) (small untuned gongs may be substituted)
- Crash Cymbals
- Anvil
- Tenor Drum
* Two first and two second flutes, and three first and three second Bâ™ clarinets were used in the premiere performance. The work may also be performed with single players on these parts.
** The trumpet parts are written in C. Bâ™ , D and Piccolo Bâ™ trumpets can be used with players transposing accordingly.
*** A small electric organ can be used. DX7 or other portable synthesizer may be substituted.
In Memoriam
Susan Eck Lichtenwalter
Commissioned By
The University of Texas at Arlington
Program Note
On March 5, 1988, Susan Eck Lichtenwalter passed away at the age of 44 following a thirteen-month illness. Shortly after her premature death, the students of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma at the University of Texas at Arlington approached her husband, Director of Bands Ray C. Lichtenwalter, expressing their desire to honor her memory by commissioning a major work for the UTA Wind Ensemble and the wind band repertoire. This work by David Maslanka is the result of the students’ expression of love and caring.
A graduate of Westminster Choir College and a life-long participant in church music as an organist and choir director, Susan’s life exemplified her unswerving Christian faith and her commitment to music as a vehicle for that expression. As a motif for this work, Mr. Maslanka has chosen one of her favorite hymn tunes: “Wer nur den lieben Gott lasst walten” (“If you but trust in God to guide you”). The chorale prelude setting for organ by J.S. Bach was frequently used in Susan’s musical programming.
The opening declamatory statement of the hymn-tune by the brass and percussion, and then by the full ensemble, sets the stage for a work which dramatically captures the conflict and celebration of human life and emotion. The main body of “In Memoriam” is a large fantasia interweaving variations on the hymn-tune with related thematic material. The quiet conclusion continues the variation process. It offers the listener a sense of peace and strength as expressed in the text of the 17th-century hymn:
If you but trust in God to guide you
And place your confidence in him,
You’ll find him always there beside you,
To give you hope and strength within.
For those who trust God’s changeless love
Build on the rock that will not move.Program note by Ray C. Lichtenwalter
Further Reading
Maslanka Weekly: Best of the Web – No. 58, Mourning
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature three of David’s works that aid us in times of mourning: Requiem, "Finale - Alle Menschen müssen sterben" from Mountain Roads, and In Memoriam.
Maslanka Weekly: Best of the Web – No. 23, Dedications
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature amazing performances of Angel of Mercy, In Memoriam, and Traveler.
Some Thoughts on Choosing Music for Younger Wind Ensembles
These are David's thoughts on choosing music. You can find the annotated repertoire list here. I have never been in charge of a school band program, but over the past 40-plus years I have seen [...]
David Maslanka: Works for Younger Wind Ensembles
Here are more than twenty works for wind ensemble, arranged in approximate ascending order of difficulty, with commentary by David Maslanka
Recording the Wind Ensemble Music of David Maslanka
Mark Morette of Mark Custom Recording shares his extensive experience in recording wind ensembles.
David Maslanka’s Use of a Chorale Tune in “In Memoriam”
Dr. Roy Breiling's doctoral dissertation covers the use of the chorale tune "Wer nur den lieben Gott lasst walten" ("If you but trust in God to guide you") in David’s composition, In Memoriam. The author also includes biographical information as well [...]
