For decades the Mount Union Brass Choir traveled to Washington D.C. to perform at the Washington National Cathedral on either Palm Sunday or Easter. For first-timers it was usually a life-changing experience. Awe-inspiring in its architecture, size, and worship activity; the cathedral was the impetus in my becoming a member of the Episcopal church.
In the late 1970s, Carl Kandel approached the Mount Union alumni about raising money for a stone carving to commemorate brass music in worship for the National Cathedral. The alumni responded and the carving was designed and dedicated during a ceremony at which the Mount Union Brass Choir performed. Inspired by the effort, this composition came to me. I wrote it out and sent it to CHK. Not only did he like it, but he immediately made it the centerpiece for the Palm Sunday worship service and dedication event of the stone carving in March 1978.
SCORE AND PARTS AVAILABLE FOR 20 USD
The Washington National Cathedral was finally completed in 1990. It then spent the next year in celebration by dedicating each Sunday to a separate state in the USA, inviting music ensembles from that state to perform on that Sunday. I am proud that my choral ensemble was chosen to represent South Dakota during that celebration.
Following are 1) images of the program from the brass ensemble stone carving dedication ceremony, 2) a video of the original composition as written for that dedication from a performance at the Mount Union Brass Choir Reunion in 1988, and 3) the bulletin from that Sunday in 1991 when my choral ensemble performed the prelude to the Sunday service representing South Dakota.
