Dawn Refrains at Arlington

Dawn Refrains at Arlington is brilliantly scored and is full of depth and emotion. In tribute to the American Heroes who have sacrificed to preserve and protect freedom, James Hirt has composed a masterwork for band that challenges performer as well as listener.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 5 | Duration: 13:00

Instrumentation
Piccolo 1/2
Flute 1 (3 players)
Flute 2 (3 players)
Oboe 1
Oboe 2
English Horn
Bassoon 1
Bassoon 2
Clarinet in Eb
Clarinet in Bb 1 (2 players)
Clarinet in Bb II (3 players)
Clarinet in Bb III (3 players)
Bass Clarinet in Bb
Alto Saxophone 1/2 in Eb
Tenor Saxophone in Bb
Baritone Saxophone in Eb

Trumpet 1/2 in Bb
Trumpet 3/4 in Bb
Trumpet 5 in Bb
Horn 1/2
Horn 3/4
Tenor Trombone 1/2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba (1-3 players)

Contra Bass
Amplified (acoustic) Piano
Synthetic (or amplified) Celesta

Percussion 1 (crotales, 2 soft mallets inside piano, xylophone, vibraphone, snare drum)
Percussion 2 (bells, snare drum, 2 soft mallets inside piano, tam-tam, bass drum)


Program Notes
Commissioned by the Cleveland Institute of Music and Case Western Reserve University Bands (Gary M. Ciepluch, Director), Dawn Refrains at Arlington is intended as an expression of gratitude and honor for all the courageous Americans who have sacrificed to defend and protect freedom. This single movement composition has four main sections which are subtitled:

I. Count the Loss
II. Freedom Remains
III. But Not Forgotten
IV. Solemn March of Honor

Each section is intended to embody a specific mood or image associated with this austere national monument. The seemingly endless ocean of graves at Arlington National Cemetery is a reminder of the overwhelming cost of freedom.

- James A. Hirt