Hymns at Heaven's Gate
by Elgar Howarth
Brass Band - Sheet Music

Brass Band - Advanced

SKU: WO.0220PTS

Composed by Elgar Howarth. Major work for brass band. Serious Concert. Instrumental Parts. With Standard Notation. Duration 15:00. Winwood Music #0220PTS. Published by Winwood Music (WO.0220PTS).

A flourish: a crowd assembles at the gate of Heaven, saints and sinners. As in a film the immensity of the crowd is illustrated, and the camera zooms to focus on particular groups and individuals.
Monks sing a ‘medieval’ hymn, interrupted by the fanfares of mischievous seraphim; gradually the whole crown join in. The fanfares grow wilder, and grubby, naughty children enter, singing mock fanfares, making jazzy gestures and trying to sing a children’s hymn. They are joined by roughnecks who take up the fanfare idea. The camera zooms again at the entrance of Jesus.
A commanding flourish causes consternation. Separate groups react, interrupted by mysterious percussion effects. Then, as the whole panorama explodes in sound, William Booth (founder of the Salvation Army) approaches awestruck. A triple Alleluia is followed by the third hymn and further Alleluias.
A dance finale begins using material from the whole piece. A tumultuous climax precedes sudden quiet Alleluias, and the crown exits into Heaven to the music of the monks, reharmonised and transformed. The camera shots extend to the heavens and the stars.