Sacred Harp is a tradition of American shape-note singing that originated in the 1800s. Drawing upon influences from European folk music, the tradition gained prominence in the southeastern United States and spread through publications like “The Sacred Harp” (1844). To this day, it remains a treasured tradition and is celebrated through annual gatherings.

When I was approached by Todd Chamberlain and Bryan Angel about writing a work for their students, I was asked if I could find some way to portray the scenes and traditions of the Kentucky heartland in a work that was also contemporary in nature. My first assignment was to identify some source music that would serve as the centerpiece. From my own days as a band student, I always have a special nostalgia for “The Promised Land” set to perfection by Clare Grundman in Kentucky 1800. Upon further research, I found that Clare Grundman was once the band/orchestra director at the commissioning school in the late 1930s. This gave me the perfect source material that both nods to Grundman, the school’s history, yet also allows me to craft a piece with an entirely different structure.

The piece begins with an alto saxophone solo that portrays a Kentucky sunrise. As more sections enter, we then get the entirety of the main theme of The Promised Land. Through some harmonic shifts, the music expands into a warm chorale that reinforces the theme with a sense of optimism and passion. The work suddenly picks up speed with active percussion and flourishing interjections that take the listener to the grandstand at the Kentucky Derby. The melody is passed around while the action and suspense of the race builds. A set of lighter variations follow as the work builds to an energetic and passion-filled ending. An expansive and triumphant statement of the final melody brings back the passion of the beginning to leave a lasting impression of the Kentucky heartland.

Legacy of the Land was commissioned by the Morton Middle School Bands (Lexington, KY) under the direction of Todd Chamberlain & Bryan Angel. I also personally wish to dedicate this work to Todd Chamberlain in celebration of his retirement after 30 years of service to music education. It is my hope that the passion, excitement, and joy of this work in some way depicts the passion, excitement, and joy he has brought to countless students over the years.