Elegy for a young American Ronald Lo Presti

Elegy for a Young American was written in 1964 and is dedicated to the memory of President John F. Kennedy. The Indiana Wind Ensemble, with Daniel DiCicco conducting, premiered the work in April of that same year.

Except for a ten-measure allegro near the end, the tempo of the entire work is a slow adagio. Contrast and balance are achieved by solo instruments alternating with small sections of instruments and with the sound of the full band. A simple scalar motif in the opening clarinet develops through the elegy, giving the listener a full musical experience of pain, grief, and loss. The ending chimes leave us with a sense of acceptance and peace.

Besetzungsliste / Instrumentation:

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet (Cornet) I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Contrabass
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Bass Drum
Chimes
Crash Cymbals
Snare Drum
Tenor Drum
Xylophone