Anthem: Contemporary Small Ensemble

Lewis writes for small ensembles with remarkable clarity and purpose. This septet sits at the intersection of contemporary practice and practical ensemble music, offering directors a work that sounds modern without sacrificing playability or coherence.

The piece balances structured compositional thinking with the flexibility and openness associated with contemporary music practice. Performers encounter both familiar harmonic terrain and moments of genuine harmonic novelty, creating an arc that feels fresh without alienating listeners unfamiliar with cutting-edge concert music.

This work serves conductors of advanced chamber ensembles, contemporary music ensembles, and college-level small groups seeking substantive repertoire beyond standard classical fare. It works equally well for mixed instrumental combinations willing to take on contemporary scores.

• Balance the string and woodwind sections carefully; Lewis's orchestration benefits from transparency rather than blending, so each family should register distinctly in the ensemble sound.
• Pay attention to rhythmic precision across the ensemble, particularly in passages where the two families operate independently; ensemble time is essential to making the contemporary language land effectively.
• Approach the contemporary harmonic language with commitment; these sonorities reward a direct, unselfconscious execution rather than over-interpretation.

Program this as a centerpiece for a contemporary music concert or as a bridge piece alongside twentieth-century repertoire. Its 100-page scope suggests a substantial work suitable for a full concert context or as the anchor for a themed chamber series.

• Reading and executing contemporary notational practices
• Balance and independence in mixed instrumental ensembles
• Rhythmic precision in non-traditional time signatures or syncopated figures
• Ensemble communication without relying on traditional harmonic cues