Year
1958
Duration
6'
Instrumentation
baritone (or mezzo-soprano), mixed chorus - horn (2), trumpet (2), trombone (3), tuba, percussion, guitar, piano
×
Explanation of the instrumentation string
| Abbreviation |
Instrument |
Guitar(s) and other plucked instruments |
|
| bal |
balalaika |
| bgtr |
bass guitar |
| bjo |
banjo |
| egtr |
electric guitar |
| gtr |
guitar |
| gtr (ampl.) |
amplified guitar |
| hrp |
harp |
| mand |
mandolin |
| uke |
ukulele |
Woodwinds |
|
| afl |
alto flute |
| asax |
alto saxophone |
| barsax |
baritone saxophone |
| bcl |
bass clarinet |
| bsax |
bass saxophone |
| bsthn |
basset horn |
| cl |
clarinet |
| corA |
cor anglais |
| dbcl |
contrabass clarinet (or double bass clarinet) |
| dbn |
contrabassoon (or double bassoon) |
| Ebcl |
E-flat clarinet |
| fl |
flute |
| heck |
heckelphone |
| ob |
oboe |
| obda |
oboe d'amore |
| picc |
piccolo |
| rec |
recorder |
| sarrus |
sarrusophone |
| sax |
saxophone |
| ssax |
soprano saxophone |
| tsax |
tenor saxophone |
Brass |
|
| bgl |
bugle |
| btrbn |
bass trombone |
| crt |
cornet |
| euph |
euphonium |
| flghn |
fluegel horn |
| hn |
horn |
| picctpt |
piccolo trumpet |
| tpt |
trumpet |
| trbn |
trombone |
| tba |
tuba |
| Wtba |
Wagner tuba |
Percussion |
|
| cim |
cimbalom |
| drkit |
drum kit |
| glsp |
glockenspiel |
| mba |
marimba |
| perc |
percussion |
| tamb |
tambourine |
| timp |
timpani |
| vib |
vibraphone |
| xyl |
xylophone |
Keyboards |
|
| cel |
celesta |
| eorg |
electric organ |
| epft |
electric piano |
| harm |
harmonium |
| Horg |
Hammond organ |
| hpsd |
harpsichord |
| kybd |
keyboard |
| org |
organ |
| pft |
piano |
| prep pft |
prepared piano |
| synth |
synthesizer |
Strings |
|
| db |
double bass (or contra bass) |
| evln |
electric violin |
| strgs |
strings |
| vla |
viola |
| vlada |
viola d'amore |
| vlc |
violoncello |
| vln |
violin |
Vocal |
|
| A |
(Contr)alto |
| B |
Bass |
| Bar |
baritone |
| MS |
mezzo-soprano |
| S |
soprano |
| T |
tenor |
Other |
|
| acc |
accordion |
| ocar |
ocarina |
| oM |
Ondes Martinot |
Explanation
The standard, accepted order of instrumentation for large ensembles: fl.ob.cl.bsn - hn.tpt.trbn.tba - perc - other - vlnI.vlnII.vla.vlc.db - tape, or electronics. Saxophones appear between clarinet and bassoon.
All other scorings (less than 8 instruments) are listed in full.
When an instrument is listed in parentheses, then this instrument is doubled. "guitar (=electric guitar)" means that the guitarist plays an acoustic, as well as an electric guitar. In an orchestral setting, "1(I=picc).2(II=corA).2(II=bcl).1" would resolve to: 1 flute (also playing piccolo), 2 oboes (second oboe also playing cor anglais), 2 clarinets (second clarinet also playing bass clarinet), 1 bassoon. If there is an extra instrument, which is not doubled, then this is expressly written out, e.g. "1(I=picc).2.corA.2.bcl.1.dbn", which unravels to: 1 flute (also playing piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 1 bass clarinet, 1 bassoon, 1 double bassoon.
Solo instruments in a concerto or chamber setting are written out in front of the ensemble instruments: guitar - 1.1.1.1 - 1.0.0.0 - perc - strgs.
|
Text/Libretto
Nancy Bush
Dedication
Paul Robeson
Premiere
London, United Kingdom, Royal Albert Hall, 15 February 1959: Martin Lawrence, bass-baritone / Workers' Music Association Massed Choirs and Ensemble, Alan Bush (cond.)
Source
composer homepage;
