One movement in 3 sections:
With spirit - Brightly - Maestoso
Clefs
Treble
Meters
C, 6/8, 4/4
Key signatures
3b, 2#, 1b
Range
Horn 1: a - f2
Horn 2: c - f2
Horn 3: d - f2
Horn 4: c - f2
Creator's Comments
Performance Notes
We thank thee, o God, for a prophet has become something akin to the anthem of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) since its publication in 1863. It is a straight-forward hymn with a couple repeated verses.
Abernathy adds to this an introduction, reminiscent of the snare drum at the beginning of Ravel’s Bolero. The second half of the bar is slightly different, but the effect is quite similar. On top of that the first verse is placed in 2-part harmony (in horns 1 and 3, while horn 2 and 4 keep at the rhythmic motive in octaves). The 2nd verse is a rhythmic variation in 6/8, with the tune in horns 2 and 4, while horns 1 and 3 keep repeating the same rhythm in D major. The final section is similar to the first (but a tone higher), initially in 4-part harmony, but towards the end reduced to a single voice, the initial rhythmic motif in horns 3 and 4, and a muted third (of the chord) in horn 2.
Due to its strong association with the LDS church, this work is somewhat unlikely to be heard in a different context. Looking at musical merit alone however, this is an inventive setting for a beginner’s quartet.