Whisper to Their Souls (based on "Greensleeves"): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Samuel R. Hazo
Grade: 4
Item: 35-PK00120517
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Description
Here is a unique and creative setting of the familiar tune "Greensleeves (What Child Is This?)" that opens with the melody scored softly for the woodwinds. The full ensemble contributes a series of harmonically rich phrases until the work reaches an emotional climax at the powerfully scored key change. While this is certainly effective as a holiday offering, it can be performed as a memorable tone poem any time of the year. Dur: 4:10
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00120517
More about this title
About the Composer: Samuel R. Hazo
Samuel R. Hazo is a composer and educator whose arrangements honor familiar melodies while reimagining them for contemporary concert settings. His work demonstrates a gift for deepening the emotional resonance of well-known tunes through orchestration and harmonic development, making classical and folk material feel both accessible and fresh.
Hazo's compositions for concert band reflect a strong understanding of ensemble capabilities at various levels. He writes with clarity and purpose, crafting pieces that challenge musicians without alienating them, and that reward careful attention to balance and phrasing.
Why we love this
The genius of this setting lies in its restraint followed by impact. Beginning the work with a hushed woodwind statement of "Greensleeves" signals to your ensemble that texture and dynamic control matter more than volume. By the time that key change arrives, the harmonic richness Hazo builds makes the climax feel earned rather than imposed, and your students will understand why less can demand more.
What to expect
The work unfolds as a meditation that gradually opens. What begins as a whisper in the woodwinds expands into rich harmonic layers, building tenderness and depth before breaking into a moment of full emotional expression. The listener travels from introspection to affirmation, carried by one of the world's most enduring melodies.
Who it's for
Conductors seeking a work that transforms a beloved melody into something meaningful without gimmick will find this essential. Your band needs repertoire that teaches musicians to listen across voices and control dynamic nuance, and this piece does both while remaining musically substantial.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the intimate quality of the opening woodwind melody through careful balance; the flutes and clarinets should sit slightly forward, but never project beyond the quietest dynamic you can sustain as an ensemble.
- Shape the harmonically rich phrases that follow the opening with attention to voice leading. Each section contributes to the harmonic progression, so articulation should remain light and aligned across the ensemble.
- Prepare the key change moment with a slight breath and imperceptible tempo lift to heighten its emotional impact without rushing.
How to use it
This piece bridges seasons and contexts beautifully. Program it in December concert slots as an alternative to standard holiday fare, or use it in spring or fall as a concert centerpiece that demonstrates your band's musicianship. Its four-minute duration makes it an excellent anchor for a thematic program exploring variations on classical material.
Skills your students will build
- Dynamic control across sustained passages and crescendos
- Harmonic listening and voice independence within chord progressions
- Balance between solo voices and ensemble texture
- Phrasing in extended melodic lines
- Responding to conductor direction for emotional shaping