The Song of Hiawatha: Overture, Op. 30, No. 3 [Alf:36-A931401]

The overture to THE SONG OF HIAWATHA was composed in 1899 for the Norwich Triennial Musical Festival performance of HIAWATHA'S WEDDING FEAST, then published separately from any of the three Hiawatha cantatas as Op. 30, No. 3.  While each of the cantatas is usually performed separately, the complete trilogy and the new overture was presented at Birmingham in 1901, along with Edward Elgar's THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS.  Stunningly brilliant, with flowing melodies, dance-like rhythms, lush chords, and dramatic orchestration, the overture's main melody is actually derived from the spiritual, "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen."  A work that can stand next to those of his British contemporaries such as Holst and Vaughn-Williams, this overture is often performed separately from the cantatas, functioning as light music with some depth. Instrumentation: 2+Picc.2.2.2: 4.2.3(BTbn).1: Timp.Perc(1-2): Hp: Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set). New reprint edition.