Julius Hemphill : Composer

No known score

Skin 2

by

Composition for two alto saxophones, baritone saxophone, cello, percussion, and drums, recorded on ’Coon Bid’ness (1975). Composition for two alto saxophones, baritone saxophone, cello, percussion, and drums, recorded on ’Coon Bid’ness (1975). The collection includes a transcription of this work by Jerome Harris from the recording.

From Marty Ehrlich: Hemphill may have meant the melody he plays on “Skin 2” to be sung, and it was too hard for a singer, so he overdubbed himself playing it.

Found on: ’Coon Bid’ness.

Return to Annotated Composition List.

Roi Boyé and the Gotham Minstrels

by

Composition by Julius Hemphill, divided into four tracks (one for each LP side) on the double album Roi Boyé and the Gotham Minstrels (1977). The liner notes describe this work as an “audio drama,” with Hemphill overdubbing himself on alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, and flute. There is no known score.

Found on: Roi Boyé and the Gotham Minstrels.

Return to Annotated Composition List.

Reflections

by

Composition for two alto saxophones, baritone saxophone, cello, and drums, recorded as the first track on ’Coon Bid’ness (1975). The archival collection includes a transcription of this work by Jerome Harris from the recording.

Found on: ’Coon Bid’ness.

From Marty Ehrlich: Because of the way the four pieces that make up Side A of the ’Coon Bid’ness LP connect and resonate with each other, I have always heard them as one continuous composition.

Return to Annotated Composition List.

Mind (2nd part)

by

Composition for the Julius Hemphill Quartet, recorded as the first track on Side B of the LP Flat-Out Jump Suite (1980).

From Marty Ehrlich: Although Hemphill was a prodigious composer of notated music, he chose at times to do an open improvisation with his colleagues on a given recording. In this case, Hemphill added titles to the improvised pieces: “Ear,” “Mind (1st part),” “Mind (2nd part)” and “Heart.” The piece Hemphill titled “Body” on this recording was a notated composition originally titled “Flat-Out Jump Suite.”  

Found on: Flat-Out Jump Suite.

Return to Annotated Composition List.