Download Sketches on a Tutor Psalm

SKETCHES ON A TUTOR PSALM
ABOUT THE COMPOSER:
Fisher Tull (b 1934, d 1994)
He was born and went to school in Texas
Professor of music at at Sam Houston State
University (in TX),
Served as Chairman of the Department of Music
from 1965-1982
And he played the BEST instrument ever… ;-)
OTHER THINGS ABOUT THE COMPOSER
Tull actively arranged for the One O’Clock Jazz
Band at the University of North Texas, one of
the country’s premiere jazz ensembles.
When he first joined the faculty at Sam Houston
State, Tull directed the jazz ensemble and the
Brass Choir, so he wrote and arranged lots of
music for those groups.
SO… WHAT’S A PSALM?
A psalm is a sacred song or hymn.
So… where is the ‘psalm’ in this piece?
Sketches on a Tudor Psalm is based off of Second
Psalm set by Thomas Tallis. Sketches is a theme
and variations on this famous psalm.
Fun Fact: English composer R. Vaughn Williams also used Tallis’
Second Psalm as the basis for his 1910 composition Fantasia
for Double String Orchestra
TALLIS’ “SECOND PSALM”
This is Tallis’
“Second Psalm”
in its original setting
and the hymnal
setting that Tull used
to write Sketches
THEMES IN SKETCHES
There are several
themes that Tull
used to compose
Sketches. They are
all used throughout
the whole piece.
WHY WAS THIS PIECE WRITTEN?
Tull had written another theme and variations style
piece called Variations on an Advent Hymn, and
that piece was pretty sucessful.
He wanted to “try [his] hand at another band work in
theme-and-variations form” similar to that piece.
Sketches was dedicated to the Sam Houston State
Wind Ensemble, and their conductor Ralph L. Mills
WHAT MAKES THIS PIECE GREAT?
-Theme and Variations form
-Lydian mode
-Challenging Rhythms
WORKS CITED:
The score
 www.dictionary.com
 www.fishertull.com
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