Skip to Content

music@jonathannewman.com
Browse Catalog

Across the groaning continent

from Symphony No. 1, My Hands Are a City

  • Year

    2009
  • Duration

    06:00
  • Level

    Professional
  • Perusal Score

    View

Note excerpted from Symphony No. 1, My Hands Are a City.

Titled after a line from Jack Kerouac’s On the Road, the first movement opens the Symphony with the restlessness and constant drifting of a young generation terrified of stagnation. As a short burst of agitated motion, this moto perpetuo reflects Kerouac and his characters “performing our one and noble function of the time, move. And we moved!”

Genres:   Winds

Subgenres:   Large Ensemble

Instrumentation

3Fl(3.db Picc), Ob, EHn, EbCl, 3Cl, BCl, CbCl, 2Bsn, SSax, ASax, TSax, BSax, 4Tpt, 4Hn, 2Trb, BTrb, Euph, Tba, Cb, El.Gtr, Pno/Cel, Timp, 6Perc (Glock / Crot / Vibr / Mar / TubBells/ RideCym / SusCym / ChinCym / CrCym / SplashCym / Piat / Hi-hat/ Tri / 2T-Tam / SD / 2BD / 2Timb. / WBl / EggShkr / Clav / Guir)

Commissioned by

California State University-Stanislaus – Andrew McMahan/Stuart Sims
Coppell High School – Scott Mason
Drury University – Christopher Koch
Eastern Illinois University – Milton Allen
Flower Mound High School – Rob Myers
Indiana University – Stephen W. Pratt
James Logan High School – Ramiro Barrera
Kurashiki Sakuyo University Wind Philharmony – James Ripley
Kutztown University – Jeremy Justeson
Middle Tennessee State University – Reed Thomas
Mona Shores High School – Jason Boyden
Ridgewood Concert Band – Christian Wilhjelm
St. Charles East High School – Jim Kull
Stephen F. Austin University – Fred Allen
Texas A&M University-Commerce – Phil Clements
Texas State University – Rodney C. Schueller
The Florida State University – Richard Clary
The University of North Carolina-Greensboro – Kevin Geraldi
University of Evansville – Kenneth Steinsultz
University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Carolyn Barber
University of Oklahoma – William K. Wakefield
University of Portland – Patrick Murphy

Consortium organized by: Jeffrey D. Gershman, Indiana University


Recent Performances

  • May 30, 2024 - Central Washington University Wind Ensemble at Hertz Concert Hall, Ellensburg, WA. Conducted by Dr. T. André Feagin, DMA.
  • May 18, 2022 - Saratoga High School Symphonic Wind Ensemble at McAfee Performing Arts and Lecture Center, Saratoga, CA. Conducted by Jason Shiuan & Michael Boitz. Additional performances on European tour: July 5, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 20, 2022
  • March 5, 2016 - Cal Polytechnic Pomona University Wind Ensemble at San Luis Obispo Performing Arts Center. Conducted by Dr. Rickey Badua.