a childhood hymn
david holsinger - Grade 2
About the music
Holsinger's A Childhood Hymn is based on William Bradbury's hymntune, "Jesus Loves Me." The work exposes young band students to skills required to play expressively such as intonation and dynamic control, balance, legato articulation, and rubato.
Tempo & style
Slow and expressive, legato in style
Faster, with movement
Slightly Broader
Slower, gently
Faster, with movement
Slightly Broader
Slower, gently
Ranges
Flute
|
Clarinet 1
|
Clarinet 2
|
Trumpet
|
Trombone
|
instrumentation
WOODWIND
Flute Oboe Bassoon Clarinet 1-2 Bass Clarinet Alto Sax Tenor Sax Baritone Sax |
BRASS
Trumpet 1-2 French Horn Trombone Baritone Tuba |
PERCUSSION
Bells Small Triangle Suspended Cymbal Bass Drum Tympani |
teaching concept categories
teaching considerations
This piece is a stretch for many young ensembles, but there are many great teaching opportunities. One of the learning objectives (stated by the composer) is to develop better slow legato style playing. To do this, concentrate on breathing correctly, using lots of air. Then, keep the air moving through all the notes in a phrase. Do not use the syllable Tu, Tu, Tu, for legato notes. Try Tu-du-du and do not let the air stop between notes. Using Tu makes it too easy for the air to stop. When the air stops, the sound stops. Legato notes are connected. If the notes are really connected, the sound will not stop between notes except at the end of phrases or at rests. This piece provides the performers with the opportunity to develop phrases, and to concentrate on more expressive playing.
Resources
Available on SmartMusic
JW Pepper - A Childhood Hymn
Teaching Music Through Performance in Band, Volume 1
JW Pepper - A Childhood Hymn
Teaching Music Through Performance in Band, Volume 1