The Folded Flag: Choral Instrumental Pak
By Joseph M. Martin
Item: 35-PK00463483
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Description
There is no more poignant sight than the solemn ceremony of the folded flag. The dignity associated with honoring one who has given the "last full measure of devotion" is rich with tradition and provides a moment of deep reverence for those in grief. This inspiring anthem presents three moments with the flag as it moves from the hands of grief to soaring and into the hearts of the future. The music has a cinematic scope, following the text with a theme that lifts the message of commitment and devotion to the heavens. An instant classic! Score and Parts (fl 1-2, ob, cl 1-2, bn, hn 1-2, tpt 1-3, tbn 1-2, tbn3/tba, perc 1-3, timp, pno, hp, vn 1-2, va, vc, db) available as a digital download.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00463483
More about this title
About the Composer: Joseph M. Martin
Joseph M. Martin studied piano performance at Furman University and earned a master's degree in the same field from the University of Texas at Austin, where he later taught in the Piano Pedagogy Department for five years. His performance career has taken him across the United States and Mexico, including a featured appearance with the Guadalajala Symphony Orchestra as winner of the Nina Plant Wideman Competition, and his solo recital from Ex-convento del Carmen received national broadcast.
Though he maintains an active concert schedule, Martin has increasingly focused his energy on composing and arranging music for worship settings and church musician conferences. His catalog spans Carnegie Hall, regional theaters, and countless Sunday services throughout the United States and Canada. Based in Austin, Texas, he continues to surprise listeners with the breadth and emotional depth of his musical output.
Why we love this
Martin's cinematic approach to text setting gives this anthem architectural weight without sacrificing emotional clarity. The orchestration spans from intimate moments of grief to sweeping passages of hope, allowing singers and instrumentalists to feel genuinely moved by what they're performing rather than merely executing difficult notes.
What to expect
The sound moves from quiet, reverent introspection into passages of transcendent brightness, with an orchestral palette that feels both ceremonial and deeply personal. There's a cinematic sweep to the harmonic language that lifts the text skyward, creating moments where grief transforms into something approaching peace.
Who it's for
This work suits advanced high school and collegiate choirs with strong instrumental programs, as well as semi-professional and community ensembles seeking meaningful repertoire for patriotic or memorial services. Directors programming Veterans Day, Memorial Day, or funeral services need music that honors sacrifice without sentimentality.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the choral line with the instrumental texture by rehearsing sections in isolation first, then gradually layering them back in. The piece's emotional arc depends on the choir's voice remaining accessible throughout orchestral tuttis.
- Work with your timpani and percussion players to establish the precise dynamics of the ceremonial passages. These moments hinge on restraint and clarity rather than volume.
- Shape the theme that carries the message of commitment by having the principal wind players mark their phrasing in pencil before the first full ensemble rehearsal. Consistency across sections will help the melody soar.
How to use it
Reserve this for spring or fall concerts where a substantial patriotic or sacred work can serve as a program anchor or closing statement. It also functions powerfully as the centerpiece of a Memorial Day service or military appreciation concert, where its combination of dignity and emotional uplift will resonate with audiences.
Skills your students will build
- Sustained vocal line control over extended orchestral accompaniment
- Ensemble balance and blend with a large, diverse instrumental palette
- Text expression and emotional communication in a patriotic/sacred context
- Sectional independence within a unified harmonic framework
- Familiarity with extended instrumental ranges and textures (harp, timpani, strings, full brass section)