Kenneth Hoffman

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This beautiful setting of the Langston Hughes poem, "Dreams," is set for children's (or young) chorus. Featuring flowing and dreamlike piano accompaniment, this piece presents the great writer's work in a compelling way! "Dreams" makes a touching addition to any program, whether for concert or contest.

Dreams

Children's Choir

Format

Instrument

"Love and Loss on the Open Sea" is a collection of three sea shanties , dating from the 17th through the 19th centuries. Each piece was carefully selected to reflect the transient and lonely lifestyles of sailors aboard ship in the age of sail. 

After the introductory quote, the piece opens with a rollicking rendition of "Randy Dandy-oh!" This shanty, which dates somewhere to the 1800's was sung by English sailors as they set sail on their voyage to places unknown. The quick 6/8 meter will keep the spirit of the piece high as the basses rock back and forth like waves on the ocean.

"Leave Her, Johnny" is a reflective tune that was often sung at the end of a long sea journey (which could last for several months to a year for one-way travels). As the crew packs up their gear and prepares the ship for dock, they reflect upon the long, difficult journey. This section begins with an optional viola solo and light, pizzicato accompaniment signifying the distant memories of the crew's voyage. Great care should be taken on emotional moments and pauses.

Finally, the piece closes with "Spanish Ladies," a popular shanty from the 1700's that wishes "farewell and adieu" to lovers at port and abroad.

Love and Loss on the Open Sea

String Orchestra Score & Parts

Voice Category

"Mariposa" (Spanish for "butterfly") is an SATB choral work based on the poem of the same name, by Edna St. Vincent Millay. I have always had a deep affection for Millay's work, which is both haunting and beautiful. Much of her writing lends itself to musical setting in both subject and rhythm.
I sought to offer a duality to the interpretation of the poem, which I believe can be interpreted as both melancholically and hopeful. The harmonies and cadences of this piece offer an unsettled nature to the text, which only resolves twice (once at the end of each section). The sudden triplets in the final measures offers a representation of a butterfly flittering away.

Mariposa

SATB Octavo

"Blue Monday" was conceived as a way to introduce young bands to the art of improvisation. Using a b-flat blues scale and cool, bluesy-rock background, "Blue Monday" will undoubtedly be a hit in your ensemble!

     Students will become familiar with the blues scale and form, which will have the wonderful additional bonus of also familiarizing young players with easily attainable chromatic pitches.

     Using the included guided worksheets, students can begin creating and refining their own, original blues improvised solo. Have students take turns in the solo section working out ideas, getting peer feedback, and playing away the anxiety and fear that often comes with first exposure to improv.

      For a performance, take the solo section as many times as you would like - encourage as many students as are interested to take a solo!

      You will liven up and energize your next performance of your young ensembles with "Blue Monday!"

Blue Monday

Concert Band Score & Parts

This bold and exciting piece will be a hit with your beginning band students! Using minor modes and tone clusters, "Agamemnon" exposes young musicians to advance concepts while still being accessible.

Agamemnon

Based on the poem by Robert Burns, this beautiful setting of "Flow Gently, Sweet Afton" will have you longing for the highlands of Scotland. Featuring an opening baritone solo, beautiful counterpoint, and moving musical moments, this piece is a touching moment to add to any concert or contest program.

Afton Water

Ensemble

Instrument Family

Instrument Type

"Four Studies in Mythology" is a piece for unaccompanied tuba written in four
movements. Each movement tells the story of a mythological tale or figure from
around the world.
The first movement tells the story of the Norse trickster god, Loki as he deceives
the principal gods (Aesir) into killing one of their own with a mistletoe arrow.
Comical trills imitate the diabolical laughter of Loki, as he leaps about in a tri-tone
figure, signifying his sinister motives.
The second movement comes from the myths of the Polynesian peoples. Maui, the
often (though not always) hero and demi-god draws forth the Pacific islands from
the depths of the sea using his magical fishhook. Many different poeples tell this
tale, each with a unique twist. The piece begins slowly and in a low register,
symbolizing the dark ocean depths. Slowly, the four-note figure is drawn up from the
depths faster and faster until they finally see the light of day (which, ironically, Maui
is also responsible for achieving).
Movement three tells the Greek myth of Thetis attempting to hide her son, Achilles
as a woman on the island of Scyros - she hopes that this will keep him safe from
the coming Trojan War and a doom-filled prophecy. Unfortunately, the masterfully
cunning hero, Odysseus arrives and begins to sniff out the deception. This
movement should be performed playfully, indicating the covert game between the
disguised Achilles and a determined Odysseus.
The last movement retells a myth of the Shoshone people, indigenous to North
America. In this tale, the benevolent and sly coyote steals the gift of fire from the
divine beings and brings it to people. This movement starts as coyote (whole-tone
scale) slowly creeps up to the fire before quickly darting off on a chase to bring his
gift to man.

Four Studies in Mythology

Tuba Solo Unaccompanied

Drawing inspiration from the preludes of Kent Kennan and George Gershwin, "Three Preludes for Piano" is a lovely feature for the advanced player. The first movement utilizes a double tetrachord motif that adds harmonic interest and audio cohesion. Movement two is inspired by the work of John Coltrane and features a wispy, dreamlike centerpiece. The final movement is in a quasi free-form that suggests many subtle (and not so subtle) character changes.

Three Preludes for Piano

Piano Solo

Get into the holiday spirit with this delightful novelty march! Featuring settings of multiple holiday tunes and the spirit of classic American marches, this piece will be the perfect addition to your holiday concert - and it'll be a favorite of both students and audiences alike!

Yuletide Parade

Naples has existed for hundreds of years and boasts one of the worlds largest UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The music of Naples is at times joyous and, at others, woefully sorrowful.
This collection of three songs (canzoni) of Naples (Napoli) illustrates the beautiful music of the region and includes the fairy tale tune "Cannatella," the heart- wrenching "Torna a Sorrento," and the traditional Italian wedding dance of the spider, the "tarantella."

Tre Canzoni di Napoli

Low Brass Quartet

Take to the high seas with an adventurous and catchy melody! "Windward Sails" will be a wonderful addition to your concert or contest program. This overture is reminiscent of the work of James Swearingen in both character and form. Shifting meter changes will give your students a meaningful educative experience while teaching or reinforcing mixed and compound meter. Enjoy!

Windward Sails

This exciting arrangement of the famous Ukrainian Bell Carol will be sure to captivate your audiences this holiday season! Featuring exciting dynamic changes, alternating harmonies, and lots of spirit, this arrangement is a must for your quintet's program!

Ukrainian Bell Carol

Brass Quintet

Built in 1928, the Silver Bridge (so named from the aluminum paint used after its construction) stretched over the Ohio River and connected Point Pleasant, West Virginia to Gallipolis, Ohio.
On December 15, 1967 amid heavy rush hour traffic, one of the eyebar suspensions gave weigh causing the bridge to collapse, killing 46 people. I remember my father speaking of the Silver Bridge collapse when I was a child; as a native of southern Ohio, the events of that horrible night live on in the minds and hearts of many.
This tragic event shook the people of Point Pleasant and Gallipolis, who demanded an investigation into the cause of the collapse and the integrity of older bridges.
During the investigation, several eyewitnesses came forward claiming that they had seen a large black creature with glowing red eyes. Other eyewitnesses described a seven-foot tall man-like creature with wings who chased after their vehicles making screeching sounds. This is the origin of the Mothman, an other-worldly urban legend!
This piece reflects the terror of the Mothman giving chase to his victims. The foreboding Dies Irae ("day of wrath') theme is used to convey the mortal danger that the Mothman visits upon the unsuspecting people of southern Ohio.
Students will experience a programmatic work with unique harmonies and timbres, while being introduced to attainable chromatic notes and fingerings.
Beware the Mothman!

Beware the Mothman!

John Chapman (1774-1854), also known as Johnny Appleseed, was a
pioneer of American conservation. He is said to have travelled through
large parts of Ontario, Canada, as well as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, and West Virginia planting apple trees. Often depicted with
barefoot and with a cooking pot on his head, Chapman traversed the
midwest spreading goodwill and promoting agriculture.
Originally, Chapman was born on September 26th in Leominster,
Massachusetts. Johnny Appleseed and I share that birthday and when
Robert Bergeron, band director at Leominster (MA) High School reached
out to commission a new work, I knew that it had to pay homage to this
American folk legend!
The title draws its name from a poem by Lebanese-American writer,
Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) in which he states that,
"trees are poems the
earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper,
That we may record our emptiness.
" This piece seeks to illustrate the
juxtaposition between Gibran's haunting words and Chapman's
optimistic work.
"Upon the Sky is an energetic fanfare for intermediate-level concert
bands. The bold opening statement with its shifting harmonies will keep
your ensemble and your audience on the edge of their seats! Paired with
the solemnly reflective middle section, this piece expresses the
enthusiastic nature of John Chapman's work in American
conservationism with the poetic wistfulness of Kahlil Gibran's writings.

Upon the Sky

"Nocturne" is a beautiful piece for solo piano, drawing inspiration from the work of Chopin, Coltrane, and pop music. Many scenes are presented in the piece, each one a character or side of an emotion - all having to do with unrequited love.

Nocturne

"Europe After the Rain" is a series of small vignettes written after a viewing of the 1940-1942 masterpiece (of the same name) by Max Ernst. Each vignette captures an emotional reaction elicited by the painting. The main melody is constructed from a descending three-note motif, which factor in to most of each individual episode.

Europe After the Rain

This ethereal setting of the poem of the same name by Edna St. Vincent Millay is a wonderful addition to your concert program. A dreamy piano accompaniment with lush harmony adds a gorgeous support to the men's voices.

The Dream

TTBB Full Score

Rogue Planet is going to be one of your student's favorite pieces! Introducing students to early chromatic notes and fingerings, optional solos, and engaging percussion parts, this piece will shine on your concert and make a lasting impression on your students!

Rogue Planet

"When the World Was New," is an exciting and evocative violin solo that tells the story of the creation of the universe. Featuring extended bowing techniques, dynamic harmonies, and building motive, this piece is sure to be a highlight of your recital!

When the World Was New

Violin Solo

Global Sections - CORE [DO NOT TOUCH]*

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