South Fork Legacy
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South Fork Legacy, op. 260
North Carolina Northwest District Bandmasters Association
2024 – grade 3 – 4:10
COMING SOON!
When accepting this commission, I was told that W. C. Lanning for whom the piece was being written requested that one of two hymns be used in the piece. Of the two titles suggested, Hail Sinfonia certainly caught my eye! Not only am I a Sinfonian (Beta Tau 1972 - University of Miami) but my composition teacher, Clifton Williams, was the Province Governor of Phi Mu Alpha at that time. Therefore, the idea of using this anthem in the piece was an attractive suggestion, although I was also feeling a bit of trepidation because no one (in my opinion) could ever surpass the absolutely stunning use of this hymn as well as Clifton Williams did in his march, The Sinfonians. The music for this anthem was originally given the title "Hail Poetry" when included in Sir Arthur Sullivan's opera, "The Pirates of Penzance," first performed in 1879. The music was later repurposed with different lyrics provided for the "Sinfonian Song Book" by Louis Victor Saar.
It was with those thoughts in mind that I began this project, and decided to use the harmonization of the anthem as an accompaniment to an original up-tempo theme, hoping that the casual listener would not recognize what I had done with regard to re-purposing the chord progression from the opera. The commission request also included instructions that the piece be in A-B-A form, so a lyrical "B" section follows the opening "A" section. When returning to the final "A" section, I altered the melody from the beginning of the piece slightly so that it would better fit with the full anthem which is now stated for the first time, albeit somewhat hidden under the initial theme of the piece. But this quickly changes as the full glory of Hail Sinfonia emerges and stands alone to end the piece in true Sinfonian fashion.
The title is inspired by the township in which Mr. Lanning lived as a child, getting his start in instrumental music as a 5th grade student at South Fork Elementary School. In addition to playing piano and organ he was very active in the choir at South Fork Baptist Church. These formative years laid a foundation for music education that inspired W.C. to pursue a career as a band director.