AND THEY GATHERED ON MOUNT CARMEL (band)

— Band version —
Surround-sound
“Blows the audience away”
3 movements. 25 minutes. Grade 5
2nd movement features a euphonium soloist

SCROLL DOWN FOR RECORDINGS

BLOWS THE AUDIENCE AWAY
I have conducted this work on several occasions and it always blows the audience away. All of Ayers’s works are extremely well-crafted by a composer who really knows and respects the concert band.
–Dr. Jeffrey Scott Doebler, former President, Indiana Bandmasters & former President, Indiana Music Educators

REDUCED BRASS VERSION
A reduced brass version is available.
Full brass: 6 tp, 4 hn, 4 tbn, 2 euph, 2 tba.
Reduced: 3 tp, 4 hn, 3 tbn, 1 euph, 1 tba
Please contact us for information.


Also available for orchestra


Excerpt from 3rd movement

YouTube player

Complete recordings of all 3 movements are available on the VIDEOS page


Instrumentation notes

  • The brass are split into two choirs, one of each side of the audience.
  • Total brass parts: 6 trps, 4 hns, 4 trbs, 2 euphs, 2 tubas.
  • Reduced brass version: 3 trps, 4 hns, 3 trbs, 1 euph, 1 tuba.
  • The entire 2nd movement is a lightly-accompanied euph solo that requires a fine player.
  • Several extra “performers” twirl whistling tubes in the 2nd & 3rd movements. These performers can be guests such as local students, board members, or dignitaries. (One of the “twirlers” should be a bona fide musician who has rehearsed with the band to serve as a “twirl-when-I-twirl” leader.

The tubes are available from toy stores and online retailers like Amazon.  A Google search for “whistling tubes” should locate them.


Performed by:

  • Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra, Sheldon Bair, conducting
  • Windiana Concert Band, Dr. Jeffrey Scott Doebler, conducting
  • University of Rhode Island Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Dr. Gene Pollart, conducting
  • Concordia Wind Orchestra, Dr. Jeff Held, conducting
  • The Slovenian Armed Forces Orchestra; Milivoj Surbek, conducting; as part of the 2003 ISCM World Music Days new music festival.
  • The California State University – Bakersfield Concert Band; Doug Davis, conducting.
  • Valparaiso University Chamber Concert Band, Dr. Jeffrey Scott Doebler, conducting
  • Heidelberg College Symphonic Band, Dr. John Owens, conducting
  • Concordia University Chicago Wind Symphony, Dr. Richard Fischer, conducting
  • Virginia Intercollegiate Honors Band, Dr. Jesse Ayers, conducting
  • University of Kentucky Wind Ensemble, Dr. Richard Clary, conducting

Windiana Presents Ayers Biblical Epics Triolgy

The Windiana Concert Band, under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Scott Doebler, presented a program on November 17, 2011, of the three large Biblical works by composer Jesse Ayers. The works performed were AND THEY GATHERED ON MOUNT CARMEL, JERICHO, and RAHAB.  Mezzo-soprano Beth Ray Westlund sang the role of Rahab. The concert was held at the historic Memorial Opera House, Valparaiso, Indiana, a venue used by the Sousa Band.


Other Works Based on the Old Testament

Home » Catalog » Symphonic Band / Wind Symphony » AND THEY GATHERED ON MOUNT CARMEL (band)