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Title	Bayerisches Osterfest (Bavarian Easter Festival)
Article no.	4076541
Category	Concert/wind/brass band
Subcategory	Concert music
Instrumentation	Ha (concert/wind band)
Format	PrtStm (full score and parts)
Country of publication	Germany (de)
Publisher *	Rundel Musikverlag GmbH
Publisher's article no. *	MVSR 2695
Year of publication	2014
Price	click here
Composer	Barnes, James
Opus no.	Op.142
Difficulty level	4
Evaluation level of countries	C3 (Swiss 2nd class); D3 (German medium level)
Duration	8:30
Additional info/contents	“Bayerisches Osterfest” (Bavarian Easter Festival) was commissioned by the Bishop Ireton High School Band, the band of a private Catholic school in Virginia, USA. The band’s conductor, Randall Eyles, is an old friend of mine. I first met him when he was the principal percussionist in the United States Air Force Band. Eyles contacted me for a commission, explaining that, after the premiere in Virginia, the Bishop Ireton Band would play the piece on a tour of Bavaria at Eastertide 2013. I decided to compose an overture based on old Catholic Gregorian Chants sung at Easter. The piece opens with a very somber statement of the first plainsong: “Victimae paschali laudes”. The opening setting for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets and two bassoons in unison is sort of an “inside joke,” since it is the same instrumentation as the opening bars of Nicholai Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Russian Easter Overture”. It is my homage to Rimsky-Korsakov, whom I admire above all other orchestrators. Three statements of “Victimae paschali laudes” are followed by the introduction to the second plainsong: “Christ ist erstanden”, probably the oldest liturgical song in German language. This tune was also used by Italian composer Ottorino Respighi in his “Feste Romane”. The music then moves to a lively allegro, where both of these old plainsongs are developed in connection with an additional original theme. As I was working on the first part of this overture, I could not decide how to end the piece. I finally decided to introduce a more modern Easter hymn sung in American churches: “Jesus Christ Has Ris’n This Day”, based on a hymn from the 14th century with the Latin title “Surrexit Christus Hodie”. This music is stated by a brass chorale with each phrase interrupted by scampering woodwinds playing faster snippets of music from the allegro section. The third hymn ends in a tutti chorale setting, before the band returns to a rapid coda based on all three tunes; a rousing final celebration of the resurrection of Christ the Savior on this happiest of all Christian holidays.
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Programme notes *: The "Bavarian Easter" in relation to music stands for a traditional connection between Bavarian culture and the festive occasion of Easter. The music associated with this context reflects the joy, spirituality and cultural heritage of Bavaria during the Easter period. The music played during the Bavarian Easter celebrations is often characterised by traditional folk sounds. Folk instruments such as the zither, accordion and Styrian harmonica are often used to create a festive atmosphere. The melodies can range from cheerful dances to contemplative, spiritual pieces that emphasise the importance of Easter as a time of renewal and new beginnings. Choral music also plays an important role in Bavarian Easter celebrations. Church choirs perform liturgical pieces and Easter hymns that emphasise the festive character of Easter. These pieces of music can range from solemn processions to festive church services and help to emphasise the religious significance of this festival. A Bavarian Easter celebration is closely linked to regional customs and traditions. In some Bavarian villages and towns, for example, Easter markets are organised where musicians play traditional songs while people enjoy local delicacies. Folk music groups, brass bands and dance groups help to create a festive and communal atmosphere that reflects the joy of Easter in the region. An example of a well-known Bavarian Easter tune is the piece "Osterjodler", which is often performed by alphorn players or folk music groups. This piece captures the cheerfulness and festive character of Easter. There are also numerous folk songs and church hymns that are popular during the Easter period in Bavaria and reflect the variety of musical forms of expression. The "Bavarian Easter" in relation to music shows how cultural identity and festive occasions can be enriched by musical expression. The combination of traditional elements of Bavarian folk music with liturgical music creates a unique atmosphere that emphasises the deep rootedness of people in their culture and spirituality during the Easter period. Quelle/Source: musicainfo.net (KI) Information: Rundel Musikverlag

	Format
	Bayerisches Osterfest (Bavarian Easter Festival) (concert/wind band), full score and parts
	Bayerisches Osterfest (Bavarian Easter Festival) (concert/wind band), full score
	Panta Rhei, audio CD

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