Fantasy in G (the Gospel Train)

for Violin and Chamber Orchestra

Fantasy in G for Violin and Chamber Orchestra, commissioned by Hofstra University for the African American Music program and dedicated to the wonderful violinist Asley Horne, is a short violin concerto composition for orchestra which can be performed by professional to community orchestras.

The piece transforms itself into the energetic African American Spiritual “Gospel Train” and lands into a gospel music style reflecting the close relationship between a traditional spiritual and traditional gospel. It finally returns to the composed melancholy melody of the opening violin statement. The opening movement begins in a haunting A♭ modal sound with an emphasis on G arriving to C major and finally arriving to the G major. “The Gospel Train” is a traditional African-American spiritual first published in 1872 as one of the songs of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. A standard spiritual, it is found in the hymnals of many Protestant denominations. Slaves knew that when they heard the spiritual “The Gospel Train’s a Comin’,” a conductor was among them or fleeing slaves were nearby. The Underground Railroad was associated with the song “This Train is Bound for Glory,” with glory referring to freedom.

This is a beautiful work with a haunting melodic violin solo. It requires a good violinist to give it the necessary sound and focus.

Price includes full score and parts. (Strings: 4,4,3,2,2 – to order additional string parts @ $3.00/ea, please contact [email protected].)

$40.00

This title is available in print or for immediate download.

Print orders are printed on demand and shipped by our printing partner, and can be expected to be processed within a few days of the order. Please do not hesitate to contact [email protected] to follow up.

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