What I Expected Was . . .
(1962)
For mixed chorus, brass ensemble, and percussion
text by Stephen Spender
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Commissioned by the Tanglewood Festival, 1961
First performed August 16, 1962, at Tanglewood, with Hugh Ross conducting the chorus and
ensemble; Lenox, MA
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rent score and parts from
G. Schirmer Inc
order music from
www.musicdispatch.com
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Scored for
mixed chorus,
2 horns,
4 trumpets,
2 trombones,
tuba,
timpani,
and percussion (2 players)
Duration
5 minutes
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In 1962 I received my first commission – by the Tanglewood Music Festival - for a work for chorus, brass ensemble, and percussion. I chose the passionate but disillusioned text “What I Expected Was . . .” by Stephen Spender. I set the work with his permission, but then saw that he had revised the final words from “shattering crystal” to “faceted crystal.” “Shattering” made for a much better setting, and he gave me permission to use it in my work.
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— John Corigliano