Julius Hemphill : Composer

Oliver Lake

Twelve Gates

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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.”

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S464Z

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There is a manuscript in the Julius Hemphill Papers with 16 measures of chord changes, as well as an alto saxophone part in Hemphill’s hand. It may have been intended for the duo album Buster Bee (1978), as it appears on Oliver Lake’s manuscript of saxophone parts along with other pieces recorded at those sessions. On the alto saxophone part, the title appears to be written as “8464Z.” No known recording.

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Blood/Zodia/Lines

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Three-section composition for alto saxophone, clarinet, flute, trumpet, trombone, baritone saxophone, and drums. Holograph score is in a music manuscript notebook donated by Oliver Jackson. The score is untitled, but corresponds to a titled part in the “Blood/Zodia/Lines.” The part, donated by Oliver Lake, is for one performer who doubles on alto, flute, and clarinet, with markings and cues for baritone sax, trumpet and trombone, drums. There are also annotations indicating improvised solos by drums, trumpet, trombone, and baritone saxophone.  

From Marty Ehrlich: After consulting in 2019 with Malinke Elliott, Baikida Carrol, and J.D. Parran, I believe this work was written for “The African Continuum,” Hemphill’s interdisciplinary work, performed at Powell Symphony Hall in St. Louis. Ben Looker’s book, Point from Which Creation Begins: The Black Artists’ Group of St. Louis (Missouri Historical Society Press, 2004) speaks to this performance in detail. The manuscript includes parts designated for “FB,” soul and gospel singer Fontella Bass.

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S*

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Composition for two alto saxophones, recorded on Hemphill’s duo album with Oliver Lake, Buster Bee (1978). The score appears in Music Manuscript Notebook 4 (MMN4). A part for alto saxophone is Oliver Lake’s manuscript of saxophone parts for the recording session. The Julius Hemphill Papers also includes instrumental parts for an arrangement for alto saxophone, trumpet, cello, guitar, and bass. “Lady S” is the big-band arrangement of this work.

Found on: Buster Bee.

From Marty Ehrlich: Hemphill performed this work in several small-ensemble contexts, and the archive includes numerous instrumental parts. The parts do not all share the same chord changes; it would take some musicological work to bring them together to make  a score.

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