Composition originally written for saxophone quartet (soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone) and later arranged for big band on the album Julius Hemphill Big Band (1988). This composition also exists in an arrangement for saxophone soloist and orchestra, made by Scott Munson for a performance by the Julius Hemphill Sextet and the Richmond Symphony in November 1993. The Julius Hemphill Papers includes proofs of this orchestral arrangement, which was published by Subito Music. There is also an archival recording of Hemphill rehearsing this piece with the World Saxophone Quartet.
Found on: Julius Hemphill Big Band.
From Marty Ehrlich: I have asked numerous early Hemphill colleagues about the title, but no one knows who Leora is.
Hemphill’s copyist, James Ware, has confirmed that a full score for big band was not made. Rather, Mr. Ware made parts directly from the material in the saxophone quartet score and Hemphill’s instructions in his second holograph score.
Tim Berne was the alto saxophone soloist in the premiere performance of the orchestral version of “Leora.”