top of page

New Music for 2024

"Hidden Wisdom"

NOW PUBLISHED!!

For Concert Band

Grade 3-4

Anthony Pickard, Lead Commissioner

Click here to register for this commission.

I am so excited to share this news with you: "Hidden Wisdom" is now available as a PUBLISHED work! Anthony Pickard lead this consortium, and we'd like to thank you for your support in this commissioning endeavor!

Anchor 1

about the music

Hidden WisdomWilliam A.R. May
00:00 / 06:17

"Hidden Wisdom"

Overture for Concert band

Grade 3-4

​

View Perusal Score

​

Things of value are not always visible. Truly valuable things are often unseen or hidden. “Hidden Wisdom” is a celebration of the hidden virtues of life, ones that are well worth finding. This work was inspired by the phrase itself, which is a direct quote from scripture: “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory” (1 Corinthians 2:7).

 

This concert overture for band is dedicated to the late composer Robert W. Smith, and was inspired by such masters as Vincent Persichetti, Václav Nelhýbel, Robert Sheldon, Stephen Bulla, and Francis McBeth.

As this work is an intentional "Throwback" (i.e. "Old School") towards an earlier era of composition, here’s some hidden wisdom for you: If you’re going to go back for anything, only get the good stuff!

1644104311780.jpeg
IMG_0403.JPG

Director of Bands, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  High School

Anthony Pickard
Lead Commissioner

​Details

  • Consortium Leader: Anthony Pickard, III (ML King High School)

  • Ensemble Type: Concert Band

  • Stylistic elements: Energetic, melodic, lyrical, with lots of percussion, harmonically & rhythmically intricate; relative to grade level​

  • Duration: Approximately 4-5 minutes

  • Difficulty: Medium (Level 3-4)

​Instrumentation​

  • Piccolo

  • Flute 1-2

  • Oboe

  • 1-3 Clarinet

  • Bass Clarinet 

  • Contrabass Clarinet (Optional)

  • Bassoon

  • 1-2 Alto Saxophone

  • Tenor Saxophone

  • Baritone Saxophone (Optional)

  • 1-3 Trumpet

  • 1-2 F Horn (3rd Horn, Optional)

  • 1-2 Trombone

  • Bass Trombone

  • Euphonium

  • Tuba

  • Percussion

Empty Orchestra Stage

Consortium Participants

Hidden Wisdom was commissioned by a consortium of ensembles and directors, led by Anthony Pickard and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. High School Wind Ensemble (Stonecrest, Georgia). The participating organizations and their directors are listed in alphabetical order.

 

South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, South Carolina, Patrick Moore

Virginia State University, Ettrick, Virginia, Samuel Rowley

bottom of page