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Composition for alto saxophone, cello, and drums. It is a 12-measure melody in cut time with chord changes given on the cello part. The score in Hemphill’s hand appears on the same manuscript pages as “Fifteen.”
Found on: Live from the New Music Cafe.
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Composition for tenor saxophone, flugelhorn, cello, and marimba. The first part of the score in the Julius Hemphill Papers has the title “Hymn,” and consists of sixteen measures of half-note chords. “Sir Preacher” is part of the theater work Ralph Ellison’s Long Tongue, where it is scored for a quartet of tenor saxophone, French horn, and cello. The archive includes professionally copied parts on manuscript for tenor saxophone, flugelhorn, cello, and marimba.
From Marty Ehrlich: This work appears on video recordings in the archive from performances of Ralph Ellison’s Long Tongue at the Kitchen in New York City in 1981. See Archival Audiovisual Material for more information.
by Editor
by Editor
Fragmentary composition, possibly for trio with saxophone, bass/cello, and percussion. In the Julius Hemphill Papers, there is an instrumental part with this title for bass or cello, on a manuscript that includes several pieces recorded on the album Raw Materials and Residuals (1977), which featured Hemphill on saxophone with Abdul Wadud on cello and Don Moye on percussion. No known recording.
From Marty Ehrlich: “Short Circuit” is subtitled “10-Bar Blues.” The instrumental part includes bass notes, double stops, and some chord symbols. If a melody ever is found, it will be interesting to see how this work connects to Hemphill’s other 10-bar blues, “KC Line.” Perhaps it is a rhythm section part for that piece, and Julius gave it another title. (You do a short circuit of the 12-bar blues form, doing only ten.)
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Fourteen-page composition for flute, trumpet, vibraphone, and drums, found in Music Manuscript Notebook 2 (MMN2). The archival video collection (of videos shot by John Millaire) includes a recording of this piece.
From Marty Ehrlich: The performance in the archival video includes this work as well as “Dogon A.D.” and “Rites,” two pieces Hemphill later included on Dogon A.D. (1972). These are surely some of the earliest performances of these works.
The Julius Hemphill Papers is an archival collection at New York University. The collection contains scores, audiovisual documentation, and other material related to the life and career of composer and saxophonist Julius Hemphill. Materials are accessible by appointment. Click here to learn more.