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CHESTER OVERTURE
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THIS TUNE WAS BORN DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, APPEARING IN 1778 IN A BOOK OF TUNES AND ANTHEMS COMPOSED BY WILLIAM BILLINGS. THIS ARRANGEMENT FOR BAND WAS WRITTEN BY WILLIAM SCHUMAN IN 1957. PERFORMED BY THE 1975 WHEATON COLLEGE CONCERT BAND.
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Contemporary band compositions, classical music arrangements, marches, jazz, symphonies, overtures. A collection from bands that I have played in throughout hi
Hello and welcome! "Symphonic Band Performances" is a compilation of recordings from several high school and college bands that I played in including the TMEA (Texas) All State Band, the TMEA Region X All Region Band, the Interlochen Arts Academy National Music Camp, the Cal Poly Tech Band, San Luis Obispo, the USAF Golden West Band, and recordings from my h.s. band, Beaumont H.S. and a few band recordings that were passed down to me. Also included are various All State groups and college and university bands. I participated and played in the large majority of these recordings. There are no professional recordings here and every recording is Public Domain. Most are available for free download. Each song has been converted from the original analog or digital source and edited with Audacity or Dak software. In the majority of these recordings, I play the tenor sax or alto sax, b flat or e flat clarinet, or directing. I was drum major for 2 years in high school, I have a BA from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where I studied music ed, composition and theory. I had about 500 more recordings I was planning to digitize and upload, but this past Nov. 20th, my home was completely destroyed by fire, and all the contents, including all my music and instruments. So, this is it. Please feel free to post a comment here or on my member page. If you like, please become a fan by clicking "I'm a fan" below.
Song Info
Genre
Classical • Ensembles
Charts
Peak #46
Peak in subgenre #3
Author
William Schuman - 1957
Rights
public domain
Uploaded
January 19, 2010
Track Files
MP3
MP3 7.3 MB • 158 kbps • 6:28
Story behind the song
The tune on which this composition is based was born during the very time of the American Revolution, appearing in 1778 in a book of tunes and anthems composed by William Billings called The Singing Master's Assistant. This book became known as "Billings' Best" following as it did his first book called "The New England Psalm Singer," published in 1770. Chester was so popular that it was sung throughout the colonies from Vermont to South Carolina. It became the song of the American Revolution, sung around the campfires of the Continental Army and played by fifers on the march. The music and words, both composed by Billings, expressed perfectly the burning desire for freedom which sustained the colonists through the difficult years of the Revolution. William Schuman (1910 - 1992), a native New Yorker, originally wrote Chester as the third movement of the New England Triptych. He developed and extended the orchestral version, making Chester into an overture for band. In the first section, Schuman introduces the tune first in the woodwinds and then in the brasses. In the next section, the melody is given a more contemporary setting with mid-twentieth century rhythmic and harmonic devices utilized to sustain interest. The closing section brings back the hymn-like treatment of the theme and the work is brought to a dramatic close.
Lyrics
Let tyrants shake their iron rod, And Slav'ry clank her galling chains, We fear them not, we trust in God, New England's God forever reigns. The Foe comes on with haughty Stride; Our troops advance with martial noise, Their Vet'rans flee before our Youth, And Gen'rals yield to beardless Boys. What grateful Off'ring shall we bring? What shall we render to the Lord? Loud Halleluiahs let us Sing, And praise his name on ev'ry Chord.
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