A Welcome Voice: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$55.00 USD

A Welcome Voice: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: A Welcome Voice: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 81-CB220398
Price: 55.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Lewis Hartsough / arr. Frank McKinney

Grade: 1.5

Item: 81-CB220398

$55.00

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Lewis T. Hartsough wrote "I Hear Thy Welcome Voice" in 1872 at a revival meeting in Epworth, Iowa. This lyrical setting explores the rich sonority available to the young concert band. The opening melody is heard in the dark, rich, full sound of the clarinets' chalumeau register and is doubled by the baritone. As the piece slowly unfolds, it offers the hymn in increasingly dramatic fashion up to its glorious resolution and final Amen.

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Series: Eighth Note Publications

Publisher: Eighth Note Publications

ISBN10: 1-77157-713-4

ISBN13: 978-1-77157-713-7

UPC: 685462027149

SKU: 81-CB220398

More about this title

About the Composer: Lewis Hartsough

Lewis T. Hartsough (1844, 1919) was an American hymn writer and composer active in the late 19th century. He composed "I Hear Thy Welcome Voice" in 1872 during a revival meeting in Epworth, Iowa, capturing the spiritual fervor of evangelical church music in that era. His work remains a fixture in American sacred music repertoire.

Hartsough understood how melody could carry emotional weight in congregational settings. His hymns were designed for singers of all abilities, which makes them particularly effective when arranged for young ensembles. The accessibility of his melodies combined with their genuine harmonic substance gives arrangers like Frank McKinney rich material to develop.

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Why we love this

McKinney's arrangement demonstrates how much color and expression an early-grade band can generate from a single, sturdy melody. The choice to open with chalumeau clarinets doubled by baritone creates immediate character without technical demands; students hear themselves making genuine music from measure one. The gradual build to a strong final resolution gives young musicians a satisfying arc to shape.

What to expect

Quiet reverence opening into gradual affirmation. The piece unfolds like a prayer being answered, moving from introspection to conviction without losing its lyrical core. By the final cadence, the band experiences the satisfaction of building something meaningful together.

Who it's for

First and second-year bands seeking accessible literature with genuine musical substance. This works equally well for groups with limited rehearsal time or for programs that want to include sacred music without requiring complex technical preparation.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the opening clarinet melody so it speaks with warmth rather than timidity. The chalumeau register can easily get buried; encourage players to sing the phrase and let the baritone support without overwhelming.
Shape the dynamic increases as the hymn unfolds. This isn't about sudden changes but rather a gentle intensification that mirrors the spiritual progression of the text.
Treat the final Amen as the destination of the entire piece. Give it space and weight; resist the urge to rush it. A slight ritardando leading in allows the resolution to feel earned.
Listen for clarity in the harmony as voices enter. Young bands often muddy the sound when playing at fuller dynamics; maintain articulation and separation even as the texture builds.

How to use it

Pair this with other concert band hymn settings to create a short sacred music suite, or use it as an opener to a program focused on American spiritual traditions. Its modest length and emotional directness also make it an excellent piece for assembly performances or community concerts where you want to show your ensemble's musicality without technical showing off.