Chester Overture

Description

Flute 1, Flute 2, Piccolo, Flute 3, Oboe 1, Oboe 2, English Horn, Clarinet in Bb 1, Clarinet in Bb 2, Clarinet in Eb, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon 1, Bassoon 2, Horn in F 1, Horn in F 2, Horn in F 3, Horn in F 4, Trumpet in C 1, Trumpet in C 2, Trumpet in C 3, Trombone 1, Trombone 2, Bass Trombone, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion, Bass Drum, Cymbals, Suspended Cymbal, Snare Drum, Wood Block, Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Double Bass — William Schuman's NEW ENGLAND TRIPTYCH was inspired by the songs and hymns of early-American composer William Billings. The third movement was based on Chester, a Billings song so popular in its time that it became the marching song of the American Revolution.  Schuman originally created a 3-minute orchestral movement based off this song.  When it came time for the composer to make a version of it for band, he expanded it to double its length with additional musical material to create the stand-alone 6-minute Chester Overture for Band.Given that Chester is the most popular movement from the orchestral New England Triptych, often played by itself, orchestras need a version of the overture with the additional material that was added to the band version.  This orchestral transcription combines the brilliance of Schuman's original orchestral writing, with the additional band material now orchestrated to match the instrumentation of the original.

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