The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (2012, rev. 2020)

Instrumentation: Orchestra and Narrator

Duration: 15:00

Commissioning Ensemble: Butler Symphony Orchestra

Performances:

Butler Symphony Orchestra
Kyle Wernke, Conductor
Eric Needleman, Narrator
Clowes Memorial Hall, Butler University
October, 2012

Program Notes:

Upon my return to Butler University as a MM Conducting student in the Autumn of 2011 I was approached by Richard Auldon Clark, director of the Butler Symphony, to compose a piece for the following year’s Halloween concert. This was a big deal because Butler was once again hosting film composer Christopher Young for the event. Richard asked for a piece based on Washington Irving’s short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. I set to work at once embracing tried and true horror tropes set forth by composers like Max Steiner, Hans J. Salter, Elliot Goldenthal, and of course, Chris himself. The resulting piece is a love letter to horror film music that also draws upon the music of Stravinsky and Bartok. After the premiere, conducted by myself with narration by my good friend Eric Needleman, I let the piece sit as I moved on to my doctoral studies at The Hartt School. In 2019 I began thinking about the piece again, realizing that it is overstuffed and uneven, particularly in the penultimate movement, “Chase Through the Woods.” I set about making revisions in early 2020 and the result is a tighter, more controlled piece that runs nearly five minutes shorter.

Perfect for concerts celebrating Halloween and horror!