Gilliland: O Music
Expected to ship in about a month.
- Composer: Allan Gilliland (1965-)
- Instrumentation: SATB Choir, Concert Band
- Work: O Music (1998)
- Work Language: English
Description
Grade 3
O Music (originally called Amaryliss) was commissioned by Music Alberta and the Alberta Summer Music Workshop, with assistance from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, for the 40th anniversary of their summer music workshOp. It was premiered on Saturday, August 1st, 1998 at Augustana University College in Camrose, Alberta, and is dedicated to trumpet player (and longtime workshop instructor) Bill Dimmer. The commission asked for a work that would include all the participants of the workshop's two-week senior session, which included wind band, choir, and strings. Since then, the string parts have been removed and the work is now performed with just wind band and choir.
The piece is in two very clear sections. The first section features the wind band presenting a slow introduction of the principal theme, which is first played by solo flute. The percussion enters, and the rest of this section unfolds with ever increasing rhythmic energy. The theme for the entire section has always been one of my favorite melodies, and one that I've always felt would make a good theme for a heroic Braveheart-style movie.
Section two features the choir, and is a setting of a poem by Kahlil Gibran called "O Music":
O Music,
in your depths we deposit our hearts and minds,
You have taught us to see with our ears,
and to hear with our souls.
The transition into the choral section has the various members of the band either humming or playing crystal glasses. The choir sings "O Music" over this texture and then continues with the rest of the text a cappella. The band returns with the humming and glasses, and the choir finishes with "O Music."
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Choral Score
A score for vocalists that only contains the vocal lines. The instrumental parts are not there for reference. Generally, cheaper than a vocal score and requires multiple copies for purchase.
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Hardbound. Generally either linen-covered or half-leather.
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Similar to a wind set, this is a collection of parts. In the case of strings, the numbers listed are the number of copies included, though generally these are available individually (often with minimum quantities required).
Paperback
When publishers offer multiple bindings (e.g. hardcover) or study scores, this is the "standard" version. If you're planning to play the music, this is probably what you want.
Performance / Playing Score
A score of the music containing all parts on one system, intended for players to share. There are not separate parts for each player.
Set of Parts
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Solo Part with Piano Reduction
For solo pieces with orchestra, this is a version that contains a piano reduction of the orchestra parts. For piano pieces, two copies are typically needed for performance.
Study Score
A small (think choral size) copy of the complete score meant for studying, and not playing. They make great add-ons when learning concertos and small chamber works.
Vocal Score
A score prepared for vocalists that includes the piano/organ part or a reduction of the instrumental parts.
Wind Set
For orchestral music, this is a collection of wind and percussion parts. The specific quantities of each instrument are notated.
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Some publishers prepare two copies - a pure Urtext edition that includes no fingering (or bowing) suggestions and a lightly edited version that includes a minimal number of editorial markings.
Gilliland: O Music
