Grandfather's Folk Song

In 1929, Jimmie Rodgers released the song "Waiting for a Train", which became one of the iconic songs of the great depression. My grandfather, George Thompson, was a self-taught guitar player and singer while being a humble street cleaner in the Southwest Virginia mountain town of Norton. A recording was made of him playing this iconic song in 1979 by the Appleshop of Whitesburg, KY, a preservation society of mountain tradition and music. He passed away in 1986, while I was only 6 years old. This preservation of his voice brings me back to my childhood every time I listen to it, matching his voice with him calling me "Jaybird", a pet name of his for me. This grade 2.5-3 piece is a tribute to him, and the song he sang for this short video. This piece is written in 5-part flex, great for an advanced middle school group or a small high school group looking for a folkish style of work. Clarinets 2 and 3 are kept below the break for a greater reach of students. This piece will reinforce articulations for every section and features many percussion parts to keep a large section busy. The mallets parts may be played on any mallet instrument, while the bells may choose to play the Flute/Oboe 1 part. I enjoyed composing this tribute, and your students will enjoy the fun parts and folkish styles of this piece!