David F. Wilborn: Fantasy on an Anglican Hymn - Trombone Octet

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https://warwickmusic.egnyte.com/dl/c52JZXffQz/TB966__sample_score.pdf_

Fantasy On An Anglican Hymn was written in the fall of 2009 for the Texas Universities Trombone Teachers Ensemble (TUTTE). The ensemble premiered the work at the 2010 Texas Music Educators Association Conference in San Antonio, Texas and five months later at the International Trombone Festival in Austin, Texas.

The work is based on the famous slow, lyrical, melody created by Gustav Holst in his Jupiter from the suite The Planets. Cecil Spring-Rice first put the melody to words in 1918. Spring-Rice titled the work I Vow To Thee, My Country but the music also became known in the Anglican church as Thaxted Although Spring-Rice set out to popularize the music as an English patriotic piece, the music later acquired greater public attention as the favourite hymn of Princess Diana of Wales. It was during her wedding and funeral that the hymn was sung by the church congregation while aired over worldwide television.

The trombone choir setting of the hymn tune explores the dark and lyrical qualities of the melody. The work opens with several brief quotes of the hymn melody and is followed by an original tune designed to imitate the character and style of the hymn tune. As the musical quotes build to a climax, the original tune segues into an ethereal resolution, thus reflecting a much lighter mood. The passage prepares the listener for a surprising jazz waltz that gives a fresh take on the hymn melody that originally seemed so sombre.

ITA Journal Review (Jan 2014) copyright International Trombone Association

Fantasy on an Anglican Hymn was composed in the fall of 2009 for Texas Universities Trombone Teachers Ensemble, who premiered the work at the 2010 Texas Music Educators Conference. David Wilborn is an associate professor of music at Texas A&M University where he teaches low brass and is the director of the University Campus band and Trombone Choir. Its theme is based on the Thaxted melody from The Planets by Gustav Holst. This however is not an arrangement but rather a true fantasy, with the original melody being used in small and large snippets and in a variety of rhythmic and harmonic settings. The work begins as one might expect, exploring the lyrical qualities of the melody while using interesting eighth note lines as accompaniment. The composer moves the solo lines around quite freely so all players have the opportunity to perform melody and harmony material. He also varies the texture nicely from the full eight parts down to one or two and back again. The highlight of the work is however the jazz waltz section. Yes, I did say jazz waltz and it works! It is well written, has a great feel and flow, and just enough of the original melody so the player and listener can hear the theme. Part one is written up to c2 on a number of occasions but also contains enough rest to be playable by most college performers. The bass trombone 2 part ranges down to a AA-flat but like parts 2-7 is playable and enjoyable for the performer. The jazz waltz section is well marked for articulation and the style is clearly evident if the articulations are followed closely. I highly recommend this work. It is interesting, challenging, and enjoyable for performer and listener. Thaxted as a jazz waltz? I say enthusiastically YES.

Thomas Zugger Capital University

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SKU: TB966
Composer: Gustav Holst
Arranger: David Wilborn
Difficulty: Advanced
Instrumentation: Trombone Octet (6 Tenors, 2 Bass)
Range: Gb1-C5