Grade 3.5

Instrumentation

Flute (Piccolo) Oboe 1st Clarinet in Bb 2nd Clarinet in Bb 3rd Clarinet in Bb Bb Bass Clarinet Bassoon

1st Eb Alto Saxophone 2nd Eb Alto Saxophone Bb Tenor Saxophone Eb Baritone Saxophone

1stTrumpets in Bb 2nd Trumpets in Bb 3rd Trumpets in Bb

1 & 3 Horn in F 2 & 4 Horn in F

1st Trombone 2nd Trombone 3rd Trombone Euphonium Tuba Doublebass

Timpani

Percussion 1 Snare & Xylophone

Percussion 2 Cymbals (suspended and crash) & Triangle

Percussion 3 Bass Drum & Marimba

Percussion 4 Temple blocks, Triangle, & Wind Chimes

This piece is based upon the writings of the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament. This story of love starts off with Naomi saddened by the death of her husband, and then the sudden death of her sons. The lady Ruth stays by her mother-in-law‘s side as she goes to work. She then meets the handsome Boaz (measure 59) and they immediately fall in love. However, they cannot be wed because according to tradition, she must be married to the kinsman-redeemer (this is the next of kin.)
Boaz makes an announcement (measure 97) in front of the council that the kinsman-redeemer shall receive the property of Emiloech (Ruth’s late husband.) He quickly accepts until he realizes that he must marry Ruth and hastily rejects. The estate of Emilech is then transferred to Boaz (measure 131) who in return claims Ruth as his wife (measure 157.) Why write about the Book of Ruth? This very small book in length seems unimportant; however, these two people are the ancestors of the great King David!

S.L.I.C.E. (“Soulful Latin in a Classical Environment”— was written for Tami Lee Hughes.

for Concert Band, grade 4.5 Dedicated to Benjamin Pruitt, Sr

Instrumentation

Piccolo Flutes 1&2 Oboe 1&2 English Horn

Eb Clarinet 1st Clarinet in Bb 2nd Clarinet in Bb 3rd Clarinet in Bb Bb Bass Clarinet

1st Eb Alto Saxophone 2nd Eb Alto Saxophone Bb Tenor Saxophone Eb Baritone Saxophone

Bassoons 1,2,3

1st Trumpet in Bb 2nd Trumpet in Bb 3rd Trumpet in Bb 4th Trumpet in Bb

Horn in F I & III Horn in F II & IV

1st Trombone 2nd Trombone 3rd Trombone Euphonium Tuba

Timpani

Percussion 1 Snare, Bells

Percussion 2 Cymbals, Suspended Cym, Xylophone, Cabasa, Bell Tree

Percussion 3 Bass Drum, Vibraphone, Vibraslap, Triangle, Gong

Percussion 4 Congas, Bongos, Marimba, Tamborine Doublebass

Symphonic Suite No. 1 is a collection of pieces I composed during my time at the University of Michigan. I was constantly told by my good friends and Sinfonian fraternity brothers, Jamal Duncan, Armand Hall, and Damien Crutcher, to write for symphonic band. I eventually drew upon my time at my alma mater to compose for this idiom, which gave me my love for playing, my love for classical music, and my desire to compose.

Chorale and Prelude was the last piece composed for this suite. It was originally written as my final-exam project in my Baroque counterpoint class with Kevin Korsyn. It was easily made into a piece for saxophone choir. After realizing the suite was incomplete with the later three movements (Marziale, Hymn, and Gigue), I composed additional material (F major) in 2012 to prolong the piece and give it more color.

Marziale comes from my tuba-euphonium quartet, Quartet No 1, which was composed for three friends of mine: Kristof Schneider, Tony Halloin, and Todd Shafer.. It was inspired by the Hindemith Trombone Sonata, which I first heard performed in 1994 by my brother, Bradford Mallory.

Hymn was originally written as “Jesus is Lord.” It was commissioned as a band piece by Frank Perez and Graceland University and premiered December 8, 2011. An alternate version with choir was premiered by Edward P. Quick and the Michigan State University New Horizons Band.

Gigue also comes from my tuba-euphonium quartet. I loved Kristof’s sound on euphonium and was thoroughly impressed with Todd’s and Tony’s range on tuba. Their abilities inspired me to compose habitually. This piece was also inspired by the Violoncello Suites of Johann Sebastian Bach and Second Suite in F: Fantasia on a Dargason by Gustav Holst.

Thank You,

Chad “Sir Wick” Hughes

“Symphonic Suite No.1” was premiered by the University of Memphis Symphonic Band on April 24, 2014 under the direction of Armand Hall.