Alternate title for a piece titled “Strickly Speaking” found in Music Manuscript Notebook 6 (MMN6). See also “Cosmic Country Boy.”
Compositions S-Z
Untitled (various)
Fragmentary composition or compositions, known only from a number of untitled parts in holograph, for E-flat, B-flat, and concert instruments, which share musical material and similar chord progressions.
From Marty Ehrlich: One of the photocopied parts includes an extensive formal plan, perhaps in Hemphill’s hand. Another has a similar formal plan written on the back, definitely not in Hemphill’s hand, but titled “form of J.H. Concerto.” A score could easily be put together using these parts and the formal plans. But what to title it?
Untitled (for saxophone quartet)
Parts for saxophone quartet (alto, two tenor, and baritone), with annotations indicating they were used by Hemphill (“Roi”), Oliver Lake, and David Murray. No known recording.
From Marty Ehrlich: This 50-measure piece is surely from the late 70’s–early 80’s, when Hemphill was playing tenor saxophone. It has tutti and soli writing, and it is all there to be performed, and for a score to made from the parts.
Untitled (Creative Music Studio student ensemble)
Composition (theme and variations) for orchestra found in Music Manuscript Notebook 4 (MMN 4), written for the student ensemble of the Creative Music Studio. The performance is documented on an archival recording. There are also parts for C, E-flat, B-flat and rhythm section instruments.
From Marty Ehrlich: Hemphill wrote this piece for a residency at the Creative Music Studio. It would be excellent to bring in to a teaching situation with an ensemble whose players have a range of experience levels and not much time to rehearse.
Return to Annotated Composition List.
Twelve Gates
Composition for two saxophones, known from a part in Hemphill’s hand for soprano saxophone. This composition may have been intended for the duo album Buster Bee (1978), as it appears in Oliver Lake’s manuscript with other pieces recorded for those sessions. No known recording.
From Marty Ehrlich: The melody for soprano saxophone is a version of the African-American spiritual “Twelve Gates to the City.” Hemphill indicates the melody is to be played “slowly” that theme is to be played twice, ad lib and “out chorus with liberties.”