Julius Hemphill : Composer

Arrangements

Take the “A” Train

by

Billy Strayhorn composition, arranged by Hemphill for saxophone quartet (two alto, tenor, and baritone). It was recorded by the World Saxophone Quartet on the album Plays Duke Ellington (1986). Hemphill also arranged this piece for saxophone sextet and included it in the dance performance “Last Supper at Uncle Tom’s Cabin / The Promised Land.” The archive includes a holograph score and professionally copied parts in manuscript.

Found on: Plays Duke Ellington.

From Marty Ehrlich: Hemphill’s 44-measure arrangement is in AABBAA form. 

Return to Annotated Composition List.

Plan B

by

An arrangement for saxophone soloist and orchestra by Christopher Bankey of three Hemphill compositions, “Bordertown (San Antonio)“, “Dogon A.D.,” and “What I Know Now.” The Julius Hemphill Papers includes working materials used in the preparation of this arrangement, likely in Christopher Bankey’s hand, as well as computer printouts of the full score. “Plan B” was published by Subito Music.

From Marty Ehrlich: The Richmond Symphony originally commissioned Hemphill to compose a work for full orchestra and his Sextet. Sadly, his health did not allow him to take on such a large project. The decision was made to go to Plan B and have another composer arrange three of his pieces, with his oversight. This work premiered in concert in November 1993, with Julius in attendance. The commission was made possible with the support of Meet The Composer and its longtime director, John Duffy.

Return to Annotated Composition List.

One for Eric

by

Composition by Jack DeJohnette, arranged by Hemphill for big band (five saxophones, five trumpets, four trombones, guitar, keyboard, bass, and drums). In this score, the saxophones also double on piccolo, clarinet, and bass clarinet, with the bass clarinet given a lead part. This arrangement was premiered in a concert with the Jack DeJohnette Jazz Machine at UCLA on May 27, 1986. The archive includes a score in holograph, as well as an alto saxophone part for the small group version. There is also an audio recording of this concert.

From Marty Ehrlich: Jack DeJohnette wrote this piece as a tribute to Eric Dolphy. DeJohnette first performed and recorded this work in 1980 with his Special Edition ensemble with Arthur Blythe on alto saxophone, David Murray on bass clarinet, and Peter Warren on bass. 

Return to Annotated Composition List.

Mingus Gold

by

Composition for string quartet (two violin, viola, cello),  based on three pieces by Charles Mingus: “Nostalgia in Times Square,” “Alice’s Wonderland,” and “Better Get Hit In Yo’ Soul” (in his autograph score, Hemphill stylizes this last title as “Betta Gititin Yo Sole”). This work was commissioned by the Kronos Quartet and premiered by them in November 1988. The archive includes Hemphill’s autograph score, photocopies of the parts used by Kronos in performance, and a copy of the score, prepared and edited by Marty Ehrlich and used for publication by Subito Music. As of this writing, it has not been commercially recorded. 

From Marty Ehrlich: This piece includes a cello part that captures Mingus’s sense of virtuosity and style. It is a substantial, through-composed work that extends upon the type of re-imagining Hemphill did with the World Saxophone Quartet for pieces by Strayhorn and Ellington, Junior Wells-Mel London, and Marvin Gaye. There is a recorded performance of the work in the archival collection, by the Daedalus String Quartet at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.

Return to Annotated Composition List.

Tormenter

by

Hemphill’s arrangement of a composition by Bill Cole, one of seven arrangements Hemphill made for concerts with Cole in New York City and at Dartmouth College on September 26-27, 1986. Hemphill arranged the piece to be performed by Cole on winds, himself on saxophones, Olu Dara on trumpet, Joseph Daley on tuba and baritone horn, Abdul Wadud on cello, Gerald Veasley on bass, and Hafiz Shabazz and Warren Smith on drums/percussion.

Return to Annotated Composition List.