Lament (from 'New Orleans Symphony')

From the composer of Play!, winner of the 2007 Claude T. Smith Composition Contest, comes Lament, the somber third movement of his Symphony No. 1: A New Orleans Symphony. Lush harmonies, mournful melodies, and a minor-key setting of the hymn tune Nettleton depict a disillusioned New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The piece stands alone on its own, but can also be paired with Play!, the final movement of the Symphony, which represents the resurgence of the vibrant Crescent City.

Genre: Concert Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 3.5 | Duration: 5:10

Instrumentation
Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe 1/2
English Horn
Bassoon
E-flat Clarinet
B-flat Clarinet 1
B-flat Clarinet 2
Bass Clarinet
Soprano Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

Cornet 1
Cornet 2
Trumpet
F Horn 1
F Horn 2
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
[TC Baritone)
Tuba

Program Notes
Lament is the third movement in my Symphony No. 1: A New Orleans Symphony. Play!, which is also published by C. Alan, is the fourth and final movement of the work, which tells the story of the city of New Orleans' experience with Hurricane Katrina. This movement represents the pain, despair, and disillusionment of the city in the wake of the storm. Mournful solos by the euphonium, french horn, and soprano saxophone lead us into a minor-key statement of the hymn tune, Nettleton, which is often sung to the text "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." The hymn tune is woven and transformed through each movement of the Symphony, ultimately making a final triumphant return in Play!. Lament ends with the low brass and woodwinds playing repeated descending chords while the "heartbeat" that is played by the piano slows down separately from the rest of the ensemble and dies away.