Walterboro High School Marching Band

Marching Band 2001

2001 Show Selections:

David Holsinger

Sister Act Ludwig Beethoven

Abram's Pursuit by David Holsinger
On An Amercian Spiritual by David Holsinger
Joyful, Joyful
Ode to Joy - from Beethoven's 9th Symphony

Abram's Pursuit In the fourteenth chapter of Genesis there is a story of a rebellion led by Chedorlaomer, the King of Elam. Chedorlaomer and three other Kings joined together to ravage and conquer everything that lay in their path. They were met in battle at the Valley of Siddim (the Salt Sea) by an army mustered from the forces of the King of Sodom, the King of Gommorrah (pre-destruction days, of course . . .), the King of Admah, the King of Zebolim, and the King of Bela. Unfortunately this opposition army was not a match for Chedorlaomer and each of these city kingdoms, including Sodom and Gomorrah, were overrun. Chedorlaomer's forces, as was the custom, pillaged and fled with all the goods and provisions of the cities. Unfortunately for Chedorlaomer, his men also kidnapped Lot, Abram's brother's son. This of course, is the same Abram who later became Abraham, Father of the Jewish Nation. When Abram heard that Lot was taken captive, he armed three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his house and went in pursuit of the invaders. With this small contingent, he divided his forces against the kings, attacked, and routed Chedorlaomer's entire army, recovering Lot and his goods, as well as all the women and people who had been kidnapped during the conquest!!

On an American Spiritual In Holsinger's Hymnsong Series, the listener may notice that On An American Spiritual is a surprising departure from his previous hymnsong compositions. We expect the plaintive opening ("Were you there when they crucified my Lord? . . .") and majestic closing portions ("Were you there when He rose up from the dead? . . ."), but the chaotic, brutal nature of the center section would seem greatly out of place until one reminds oneself of the lyrics of this Easter lament, where the center verses recount how they nailed Him to a tree and laid Him in the grave. With this in mind, we realize that Holsinger has composed a variation very dependent on extramusical events (the traditional verses) for inspiration and understanding.