Project Description
Wind Ensemble
2005
35 min.
Listen Now
The St. Olaf Band, Timothy Mahr, cond.
On the album Inner Visions, The Music of David Maslanka (2009)
Illinois State University Symphonic Winds, Stephen Steele, cond.
On the album Maslanka: Symphony No. 7 (2006)
University Of New Hampshire Wind Symphony, Andrew Boysen, cond.
On the album The Music Of David Maslanka (2008)
Preview Score
Instrumentation
Picc Fl-2(2»Picc) Ob-2 EbCl BbCl-3 BCl-2 CACl Bsn-2(2»Cbsn) ASx-2 TSx BSx | Hn-4 CTpt-3(1»BbPicc) Tbn-2 BTbn Tuba DB | Pno Timp Perc-5
- Piccolo
- Flute (2) (2 also dbl Piccolo)
- Oboe (2)
- Clarinet in E♭
- Clarinet in B♭ (3)
- Bass Clarinet (2)
- Contra Alto Clarinet in E♭
- Bassoon (2) (2 dbl Contrabassoon)
- Alto Saxophone (2)
- Tenor Saxophone
- Baritone Saxophone
- Horn in F (4)
- a fifth horn may be employed as an alternate for the first player
- Trumpet in B♭ (3) (1 dbl Piccolo Trumpet)
- a fourth trumpet may be employed as an alternate for the first player
- Trombone (2)
- Bass Trombone
- Tuba (2)
- Double Bass
- Piano
- Timpani
- Required Percussion (5 players)
- Vibraphone (2)
- Xylophone
- Buddhist Meditation Bell (1 sm., 1 lg.)
- Hammered Dulcimer (sm. opt.)
- Marimba (2)
- Orchestra Bells (4)
- Crash Cymbals
- Chimes
- Hand Chimes (opt.)
- Suspended Cymbal (1 sm., 2 lg.)
- Bell (sm.)
- Snare Drum
- Tenor Drum (2)
- Bass Drum (2)
- Tam-tam (2)
- Anvil (iron theater weight)
- Crotales (2)
- Temple Blocks
- Rain Tree
- Bongos
- High Toms
- Sand Paper Blocks
- Log Drums
- Shaker (sm.)
Movements
- Moderate
- Slow
- Very Fast
- Moderately Slow
Commissioned by
a consortium lead by Stephen K. Steele.
- Illinois State University – Stephen K. Steele, Director of Bands – Consortium Head
- Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD – Dr. Bruce T. Ammann, Conductor
- Bowling Green State University – Bruce Moss, Director of Bands
- Brigham Young University – David Blackinton, Director of Bands
- California State University, Fresno Wind Ensemble – Dr. Lawrence Sutherland, Conductor
- Emory University – Scott Stewart, Director of Wind Studies
- Florida State University Wind Orchestra – Richard Clary, Conductor
- Illinois State University Marching Band – Christian Naven
- Ithaca College – Stephen Peterson, Director of Bands
- Kean University – Thomas Conners, Director of Bands
- Tau Beta Sigma, Zeta Alpha Chapter – Matthew Luttrell, Advisor
- New Mexico State University – Ken Van Winkle, Director of Bands
- Ohio State University – Russel Mikkelson, Director of Bands
- St. Olaf College/Miles Johnson Endowment – Timothy Mahr, Conductor
- Stephen F. Austin State University Wind Ensemble – Fred J. Allen, Conductor
- Syracuse University – John M. Laverty, Director of Bands
- Tennessee Tech University – Joseph W. Hermann, Director of Bands
- Texas Christian University Wind Symphony – Bobby R. Francis, Conductor
- Towson University – Dana Rothlisberger, Director of Bands
- University of Arizona Wind Ensemble – Gregg I. Hanson, Conductor
- University of Florida – David A. Waybright, Director of Bands
- University of Georgia – John Culvahouse, Interim Director of Bands
- University of Kentucky – John Cody Birdwell, Director of Bands
- University of Miami – Gary Green, Director of Bands
- University of Missouri – Tom O’Neal, Director of Bands
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Carolyn Barber, Director of Bands
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas Wind Orchestra – Thomas G. Leslie, Conductor
- University of Northern Iowa – Rod M. Chesnutt, Conductor
- University of Southern Mississippi – Thomas V. Frashillo, Director of Bands
- University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee – Thomas Dvorak, Director of University Bands
- University of Wisconsin, Whitewater – Glenn C. Hayes, Director of Bands
- Western Michigan University – Robert Sprawling, Director of Bands
- Wright State University – David M. Booth, Director of Bands
Program Note
I am strongly affected by American folk songs and hymn tunes, and I think of this Symphony and “old songs remembered”. With one exception all the tunes are original, but they all feel very familiar. The borrowed melody is from the 371 Four-Part Chorales by J.S. Bach. Each song has a bright side and a dark side, a surface and the dream underneath. Each is a signal or call which evokes an inner world of associations.
- Sunday night church services from my youth. Mrs. Smith played the piano. The opening piano solo is marked “enthusiastically” in the score. A dream travels to a far place.
- In the manner of an American folk song, with a setting that might have come out of the 19th or early 20th centuries.
- A ferocious fast music, unrelenting, determined to get a grip on chaos. Toward the end a fractious quote of the Bach Chorale melody “Du Friedensfurst Herr Jesu Christ” (Prince of Peace Lord Jesus Christ).
- A simple song of peace and healing
Program Note by David Maslanka
Further Reading
Maslanka Weekly: Best of the Web – No. 122, New Performances of Popular Symphonies
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we are excited to feature amazing new performances of three of David's most popular symphonies: Symphony No. 4, Symphony No. 7, and Symphony No. 8.
Maslanka Weekly: Best of the Web – No. 102, Recent Performances of Symphony No. 7
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature three recent extraordinary performances of Symphony No. 7.
Maslanka Weekly: Best of the Web – No. 98, New and Classic Recordings of David’s Symphonies
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature two new performances of favorite symphonies: Symphony No. 4, Symphony No. 7, and the recording of the premiere performance of "Allegro Molto" from Symphony No. 2.
From the Maslanka Archive – No. 13, World Premiere of Symphony No. 7
From the Maslanka Archive features media and stories of David's life and work. This week, we are excited to feature pictures from the World Premiere of David's Symphony No. 7 by Stephen K. Steele and the Illinois State University Wind Symphony on March 10, 2005.
From the Maslanka Archive – No. 7, Maslanka Conducts Maslanka
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 conducting his own Symphony No. 7 in a live performance from April 28, 2005.
Maslanka Weekly: Best of the Web – No. 71, Slow Movements
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature three of David’s compositions (of which there are literally dozens to choose from) that highlight some of his most beautiful writing in slower tempi: "Movement I" from Recitation Book, "Slow" from Symphony No. 7, and "Slow" from Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano.
Maslanka Weekly: Best of the Web – No. 50, Folk Songs
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature performances of three of David's works inspired by folk songs: Symphony No. 7, "Johnny Get Your Hair Cut" from A Carl Sandburg Reader, and The Seeker.
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 Symphony No. 7 : An Examination of Analytical, Emotional, and Spiritual Connections Through a “Maslankian” Approach
Lane Weaver's doctoral dissertation on David's Symphony No. 7 provides an analysis of each movement while providing an inside look into the creation of this symphony. The author also provides thorough biographical information and an extensive [...]
