Description
Symphony Nr. 7, “Renaissance Memories”
David Whitwell (1937–)
Date: 2018
Instrumentation: Concert Band
Duration: 9:30
Level: 4
Score preview
Symphony No. 7, “Renaissance Memories”, by Dr David Whitwell. A level 4 work suitable for high school bands.
This composition does not quote any actual Renaissance music, rather it is all music that came to me thinking of life in that period. I found trying to write a 15th century style canzona was, to my surprise, quite difficult. In this period before the influence of Italian opera and the lyrical style of melody, I found myself at a loss—mere conventions, such as how canzonas begin, did not help. Also it is quite unusual, in the second movement, to attempt to imitate a plucked string, which is very unnatural to a wind-blown instrument. I had in mind a short staccato, with as little accent as is possible.
