New England Triptych
Encyclopedia
New England Triptych is a symphonic composition by William Schuman
. The work lasts about 16 minutes, and is written for an orchestra of 3 flutes (3rd = piccolo), 2 oboes, English horn, E-flat clarinet, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (bass drum, cymbals, snare drum, tenor drum), and strings.
Subtitled "Three Pieces for Orchestra After William Billings", New England Triptych is basically an expansion of Schuman's 1943 William Billings Overture (premiered by Artur Rodziński
and the New York Philharmonic
in 1944 but never published, and since withdrawn by the composer). New England Triptych was written in 1956 and premiered on October 28 of that year by the Orchestra of the University of Miami
under the direction of Andre Kostelanetz
, who had commissioned it.
Schuman prefaced his score with this note (and reprinted the pertinent texts for each hymn):
The first movement, "Be Glad then America", is built on these lines from Billings' text:
After a short introduction by solo timpani, the strings develop music that suggests the "Halleluyah" of the end. Trombones and trumpets start the main section in a varied setting of the words "Be Glad then America, Shout and Rejoice." The solo timpani returns, leading to a fugal section based on the words "And Ye Shall Be Satisfied." The music gains momentum as combined themes lead to a climax, followed by a free adaptation of Billings' "Halleluyah" music and a final reference to the "Shout and Rejoice" music.
The second movement, "When Jesus Wept",begins with a solo by bassoon and soon after, the bassoon is accompanied by oboe. "When Jesus Wept", is in the form of a round and uses Billings' music in its original form. .
The third movement, "Chester
", is perhaps Billings' best known tune. Originally a church hymn, it was adopted by the Continental Army as a marching song. The orchestral piece derives both from the spirit of the hymn and the marching song:
Ironically, for a piece that does not use his own melodies, New England Triptych has become one of the works most indelibly associated with William Schuman. It also exists in an arrangement by the composer for concert band although the "Chester" movement was revised and lengthened.
William Schuman
William Howard Schuman was an American composer and music administrator.-Life:Born in Manhattan in New York City to Samuel and Rachel Schuman, Schuman was named after the twenty-seventh U.S. president, William Howard Taft, although his family preferred to call him Bill...
. The work lasts about 16 minutes, and is written for an orchestra of 3 flutes (3rd = piccolo), 2 oboes, English horn, E-flat clarinet, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (bass drum, cymbals, snare drum, tenor drum), and strings.
Subtitled "Three Pieces for Orchestra After William Billings", New England Triptych is basically an expansion of Schuman's 1943 William Billings Overture (premiered by Artur Rodziński
Artur Rodzinski
Artur Rodziński was a Polish conductor of opera and symphonic music. He is especially noted for his tenures as music director of the Cleveland Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic in the 1930s and 1940s.-Biography:...
and the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
in 1944 but never published, and since withdrawn by the composer). New England Triptych was written in 1956 and premiered on October 28 of that year by the Orchestra of the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
under the direction of Andre Kostelanetz
Andre Kostelanetz
André Kostelanetz was a popular orchestral music conductor and arranger, one of the pioneers of easy listening music.-Biography:...
, who had commissioned it.
Schuman prefaced his score with this note (and reprinted the pertinent texts for each hymn):
- William BillingsWilliam BillingsWilliam Billings was an American choral composer, and is widely regarded as the father of American choral music...
(1746–1800) is a major figure in the history of American music. His works capture the spirit of sinewy ruggedness, deep religiosity, and patriotic fervor that we associate with the Revolutionary period in American history. I am not alone among American composers who feel a sense of identity with Billings, which accounts for my use of his music as a departure point. These three pieces are not a "fantasy" nor "variations" on themes of Billings, but rather a fusion of styles and musical language.
The first movement, "Be Glad then America", is built on these lines from Billings' text:
- Yea, the Lord will answer
- And say unto his people — behold
- I will send you corn and wine and oil
- And ye shall be satisfied therewith.
- Be glad then, America,
- Shout and rejoice.
- Fear not O land,
- Be glad and rejoice.
- Halleluyah!
After a short introduction by solo timpani, the strings develop music that suggests the "Halleluyah" of the end. Trombones and trumpets start the main section in a varied setting of the words "Be Glad then America, Shout and Rejoice." The solo timpani returns, leading to a fugal section based on the words "And Ye Shall Be Satisfied." The music gains momentum as combined themes lead to a climax, followed by a free adaptation of Billings' "Halleluyah" music and a final reference to the "Shout and Rejoice" music.
The second movement, "When Jesus Wept",begins with a solo by bassoon and soon after, the bassoon is accompanied by oboe. "When Jesus Wept", is in the form of a round and uses Billings' music in its original form. .
- When Jesus wept, the falling tear
- in mercy flowed beyond all bound;
- when Jesus mourned, a trembling fear
- seized all the guilty world around.
The third movement, "Chester
Chester (song)
Among the patriotic anthems sung during the American Revolutionary War, only Yankee Doodle was more popular than William Billings's Chester. Billings wrote the first version of the song for his 1770 songbook The New England Psalm Singer, and made improvements for the version in his The Singing...
", is perhaps Billings' best known tune. Originally a church hymn, it was adopted by the Continental Army as a marching song. The orchestral piece derives both from the spirit of the hymn and the marching song:
- Let tyrants shake their iron rod,
- And slavery clank her galling chains,
- We fear them not, we trust in God,
- New England’s God forever reigns.
- The foe comes on with haughty stride,
- Our troops advance with martial noise,
- Their vet’rans flee before our youth,
- And gen’rals yield to beardless boys.
Ironically, for a piece that does not use his own melodies, New England Triptych has become one of the works most indelibly associated with William Schuman. It also exists in an arrangement by the composer for concert band although the "Chester" movement was revised and lengthened.