American Port of Call

Adolphus Hailstork
Piece Duration: 8:45

About this Piece

(Starts at 1:29-10:15) *New Bedford Symphony Orchestra Performance

"Adolphus Hailstork wrote An American Port of Call for the Virginia Symphony who premiered it in 1985. Dr. Hailstork gives this summary of the piece: 'The concert overture, in sonata-allegro form captures the strident (and occasionally tender and even mysterious) energy of a busy American port city. The great port of Norfolk, Virginia, where I live, was the direct inspiration.'" - Hollywood Bowl

Full Score: https://issuu.com/theodorepresser/docs/hailstork_american-port-of-call-score 

Notable Passages

Time Stamp: 1:29 — 2:16
Description: Minor 2nds (half steps) are frequently heard in this section, often as two notes trilling back and forth (Score: Pg. 1, Measure 1-19)
Keywords: Interval - Melodic , Trill - Articulation , Trill - Melody

Time Stamp: 2:48 — 3:56
Description: The clarinet solo features many leaps, followed by disjunct motion in the strings and brass. (Score: Pg. 8, measure 45-80)
Keywords: Disjunct Motion - Melody

Time Stamp: 5:12 — 7:27
Description: This section alternates between 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, and 9/8. There is even one 3/8 measure! Can you spot all of the time signature changes? (Score: Pg. 16-27, Ms. 121-215)
Keywords: Mixed Meter

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