Jon Howe

Audio Available

Component

Delivery

Ensemble

Eprint Folders

Grade

Item Sequence

Large Print Edition

Marketed Status

Minimum Sell Quantity

MINTS Data Available

Product Line

Prop65

Score Available

Video Available

Voice

High Flight is a popular poem for aviators and astronauts alike, and is
  also the official poem of the Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force.
  Portions of the poem frequently appear on the headstones of Arlington
  National Cemetary. A powerful poem written only a few months before John
  Gillespie Magee Jr.'s death in December of 1941, High Flight is about
  spirituality and escaping the bounds of Earth and flying higher than ever
  before thanks to the invention of the airplane. Rather than warning man of
  their hubris, such as in the story of Daedalus and Icarus, this poem
  celebrates exploring the unknown and flying to the skies' limits.
    
    My musical setting attempts to bring these ideas to life.
    
    This was written for and is dedicated to my friend, Brendon Lewis.

High Flight

Tenor Solo

Format

Instrument

Silver Wings has its named derived from the poem High Flight by John Gillespie Magee Jr, written a few months before his death in December of 1941. This is the second work I have based around this poem, the first being an art song for tenor and piano. In the creation of this work I have used elements from that previous composition as well as quoting a portion of the Royal Air Force March Past in the ending as an homage to John Gillespie Magee Jr's service as part of the Canadian Royal Air Force. Silver Wings evokes the image of a pilot taking off from the runway in their plane, soaring across the countryside and above to the heavens. With flourishing woodwinds combined with fanfaric brass lines, this work celebrates the poet's love of flight and soaring to the skies' limits. Silver Wings is a Grade 3-3.5 work for concert band and serves as an excellent opener for your next concert!

Silver Wings for Concert Band

Concert Band Score & Parts

Instrument Family

Instrument Type

A short piece inspired by Asher Brown Durand's "Sunday Morning" that is highly lyrical in nature while not being overly technically challenging, making this piece suitable for advanced students and professionals alike. With a short cadenza at the end, allowing performers to explore their own musical creativity in relation to the piece, this piece makes for a great addition to any recital!

Program Notes
Nature has always been a huge source of inspiration for me and I've always appreciated the Hudson River School's pastoral landscapes. When I first saw Asher Brown Durand's painting Sunday Morning I was instantly hooked on its summer landscape. The soft, warm colors, reminded me of relaxing outside in the warm summer sun. The distant church instantly reminded me of Debussy's La cath�drale engloutie, which is given homage at the very beginning of this piece. The same church, and the individuals heading towards it, also inspired the chorale-like prayer section towards the end of this piece. This piece combines these various elements of inspiration to create a relaxed meditation. Originally for violin and piano, this piece has been adapted to a version for viola and piano.

This piece was written for Christopher Smith, as part of the 2022 Hartt Community Division and NBMAA collaboration, who premiered the work on April 1st at the Greater Hartford Academy for the Arts recital hall.

Pastoral on a Sunday Morning (Version for Viola and Piano))

Viola Solo with Piano

A short piece inspired by Asher Brown Durand's "Sunday Morning" that is highly lyrical in nature while not being overly technically challenging, making this piece suitable for advanced students and professionals alike. With a short cadenza at the end, allowing performers to explore their own musical creativity in relation to the piece, this piece makes for a great addition to any recital! Also available as a version for Viola and Piano.

Program Notes
Nature has always been a huge source of inspiration for me and I've always appreciated the Hudson River School's pastoral landscapes. When I first saw Asher Brown Durand's painting Sunday Morning I was instantly hooked on its summer landscape. The soft, warm colors, reminded me of relaxing outside in the warm summer sun. The distant church instantly reminded me of Debussy's La cathedrale engloutie, which is given homage at the very beginning of this piece. The same church, and the individuals heading towards it, also inspired the chorale-like prayer section towards the end of this piece. This piece combines these various elements of inspiration to create a relaxed meditation.

This piece was written for Christopher Smith, as part of the 2022 Hartt Community Division and NBMAA collaboration, who premiered the work on April 1st at the Greater Hartford Academy for the Arts recital hall.

Pastoral on a Sunday Morning

Violin Solo with Piano

Program Notes:

Lament for viola and double bass was written as part of the Hartt School's "Uncertainty of Fate" commission for miniatures revolving around the theme "what has the year 2020 meant to you?" For myself, like many others, 2020 was a time of sudden change and adaptation and it didn't come without its fair share of difficulties. 2020 was the year that I finished my bachelors degree at the University of Rhode Island and then started my masters at the Hartt School. In truth, I was often overwhelmed during this time due to the events of the year. I found myself often lacking motivation to compose far more frequently than any other year.

As its name implies, Lament is not a light-hearted work. It is a meditation on dealing with and overcoming emotional strife. The double bass gives an opening question which is shortly answered by the viola with a question of its own that leads into the pseudo march tempo that persists throughout the rest of the piece. Both instruments continue their conversation, often emphasizing dissonant harmonies in their melodies, trading off with point and counterpoint until they reach an asynchronous attempt at unity. Finally, the two are able to speak as one. As clarity is found the viola gives one final cry and the two instruments march onwards towards the unknown.
Lament for viola and double bass was written for Harry Grossman and Elizabeth Knaub.

Lament for Viola and Double Bass

Viola Duet

Global Sections - CORE [DO NOT TOUCH]*

Favicon

Need Help? Contact Us or call 1-800-345-6296    Live Chat

Header

Don't have a business account? Create one

CartDrawer

Children

TrustPilotScript

Customer Service

Selection Made Easy

About J.W. Pepper

J.W. Pepper

CustomFooter

Product List Page - CORE [DO NOT TOUCH]*

Breadcrumb

CustomProductGallery

Products

High Flight

Silver Wings for Concert Band

Pastoral on a Sunday Morning (Version for Viola and Piano))

Pastoral on a Sunday Morning

Lament for Viola and Double Bass