HAY RIVER ANTHEM - Kevin McChesney - 3-5 oct w/optional C instrument(s), optional tenor and bass percussion - Level 3 -
Hay River is the second largest community in the Northwest Territories of Canada, a region which has a total population of about 50,000 people, about half a football stadium. That's in a geographical region that is larger than Alaska. There is one school handbell choir in the Northwest Territories - the next nearest handbell choir is in Edmonton, an eight-hours' drive away. I had the great privilege of travelling to this remote region to work with this enthusiastic, talented school group in 2006. There is a tremendous talent in this region for "maximizing the minimums" - for making the most happen from limited resources. The music teacher at DJSS has a terrific talent for making the most musical education happen from minimal resources - creating percussion groups out of trash cans and anything that will make a percussive sound and forming a lovely "fiddle" group based on the traditional tunes of the region and of Canada in general. And the handbell choir director displays a unique talent for making the most music possible, in an intelligent way, from a small number of ringers, maybe 6 or 7. The enthusiasm for the group dynamic of handbells and the overall ability to create the most music from the least number of people touched me deeply when I had the opportunity of spending a week with these amazing young musicians. Life-long friendships were formed, and I feel privileged to put together a piece that not only meets the needs of this unique situation but that has a place for a variety of programs - handbells alone, bells with C instrument(s), with optional parts for percussion. A great love and friendship grew between these few folks who believe in the cause of handbells in this remote region and myself, and I feel privileged to try to put together something that meets the creative and artistic needs of these amazing people. It is with heartfelt gratitude that I offer this original work, dedicated to a remarkable group of people who believe in the beauty and energy of music and of handbells and are truly "brothers and sisters" in the cause of handbells in an amazing region of the planet.
Click here to see the score.
Click here to hear the score.
