Symphonic Sketches, Nos. 1 & 2: Jubilee and Noel [2(2nd dPicc).2+EH.2BCl.2: 4.2.3.0: Timp.Perc(3-4):

SYMPHONIC SKETCHES was written by American composer George Whitefield Chadwick (1854-1931) between 1895 and 1904. Each of the four movements (1. Jubilee; 2. Noel; 3. Hobgoblin; 4. A Vagrom Ballad) were inspired by a scene depiction. And each movement also included an accompanying bit of poetry, to be printed opposite each title page. The work premiered on February 2, 1908, with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Max Fiedler conducting. Sketch No. 1, the jaunty JUBILEE, calls for "No cool gray tones" but rather "the warmest red and green,/ A cornet and a tambourine,/ To paint my Jubilee!" Sketch No. 2, NOËL, was written for the birth of Chadwick's son, whose name Noel is French for Christmas. He creates a feeling of serenity of homeyness in the movement, which starts with an English horn solo reminiscent of the start of second movement from Dvorak's 9th Symphony. Instrumentation: 2(2nd dPicc).2+EH.2BCl.2: 4.2.3.0: Timp.Perc(3-4): Hp: Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set).