To enjoy a YouTube video, please click on the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlfkzwWaOGs

Recordings:

The Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra (PA), directed by Reuben Blundell, released their “American Discoveries” cd in May 2021. Included on it was For a Beautiful Land.

The cd is available via Naxos, Amazon, etc. This recording was awarded the American Prize in Orchestra Performance in September, 2022.

Recent performances include:

Univ. of Nebraska Omaha, directed by Matthew Brooks, Dec. 6, 2022

Allegretto Youth Symphony (PA), directed by Brian Norcross,  Oct. 9, 2022

Whitworth Symphony Orchestra (OR), directed by Philip Baldwin, on April 26, 2022

Drake Symphony Orchestra (IA), directed by Hector Aguero, Jr. on March 10, 2022

Allegro Orchestra of Lancaster (PA), directed by Brian Norcross on July 10, 2021

Meridian Symphony Orchestra (MS), directed by Peter Rubardt on May 8, 2021

Chappaqua Symphony Orchestra (NY), directed by Reuben Blundell on March 8, 2020

Mission Chamber Orchestra (CA), directed by Emily Ray on February 15, 2020

Rockford Symphony Orchestra (IL), directed by Steven Larsen on January 18, 2020

Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra, directed by Reuben Blundell on December 8, 2019

Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra, directed by Robert McConnell in October and November (6 concerts) 2019

Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra, directed by Jason Weinberger in July 2019

“Opening last night’s program was a new work by Linda Robbins Coleman, the symphony’s ebullient and outgoing Composer-in-Residence. Commissioned for this concert as an Iowa tribute, For a Beautiful Land carries the lovely Coleman imprint that has graced at least three of the symphony’s concerts during her two-year tenure with the group. Warm and open, the work evokes a flowing landscape through lilting strings and bright woodwinds. Although accessible, it is hardly predictable.”

Rebecca P. Lindwall

Cedar Rapids Gazette

May 4, 1996

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Duration: 11 minutes, 40 seconds

In order to accommodate the differing instrumentations

of various orchestras, two editions of this music are available.

Please scroll down to see the instrumentation of both editions.

Perusal scores are available to interested conductors upon request.

*******

Program Notes

    For A Beautiful Land was commissioned and premiered by Christian Tiemeyer and the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra in 1996 as part of the Iowa Sesquicentennial (150th) Celebration. It began as an expression of my love of Iowa - its spirit, essence, many beauties, and richness of this land and people both past and present. The music is tonal, rhapsodic and free-flowing, reflecting sights, sounds, memories, and impressions dear to my heart. The sounds of birds are predominant throughout, as is the wind. I tried to capture the openness, the rolling hills, and magnificent spaces of the landscape in the melodies, harmonies, and rhythms. As the music flowed from my heart, I realized that this piece was not just about Iowa. It is a song of love to our beautiful planet, nature, and life.

    The symphonic poem is in three main sections. It opens with a fanfare introduced by the strings that is answered by the winds and followed by the introduction of the bird songs. This segues into the first main section, a 3/4 waltz, where the melody bounces back and forth from one choir to the other. Within it is hinted my jazz background. After a quiet transition, the next section begins when the 6/8 waltz melody is introduced by a flute duet. The waltz builds and grows until there is an abrupt grand pause. Then the third section begins. This is a restatement of the first fanfare, but now in 6/8, slower, and played by the oboes. The strings interrupt this drunken-sounding revelry with a sensual waltz. All this leads to restatements and developments until the coda rises in one final whirl of activity.

    I invite the audience to summon up their own memories and feelings for nature, love, and life when they hear my music.

Performance History

     For A Beautiful Land was commissioned and premiered by the Cedar Rapids Symphony in April 1996 as part of the Iowa Sesquicentennial (150th) Celebration. Since then it has been performed and broadcast more than a hundred times throughout the USA and abroad by orchestras ranging from the Chelsea Symphony Orchestra in New York City, the Garden State Philharmonic in New Jersey, the ProMusica Arizona Chorale and Orchestra, the Northeast Orchestra of Tarrant County (TX), the Bloomsburg University Community Orchestra, and the Randolph College Chamber Orchestra, among others. In recent years it has been featured on concert tours through Italy and Puerto Rico, and has been broadcast on public radio stations throughout the United States and Europe.

    At the time it was commissioned, For A Beautiful Land was awarded the largest individual artist project grant to that time from the Iowa Arts Council. In May 2007 it was performed on a concert featuring violinist Mark O’Connor by the Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra (OK), under the direction of Lauren Green.

    In February 2010 the Westmont Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Michael Shasberger gave this music its California debut in Santa Barbara, California. The Westmont Orchestra performed this music again on two concerts in California in 2015, and on a tour throughout Italy including concerts in Rome.

    For A Beautiful Land was performed by the Chamber Orchestra Of Laredo (Texas) under the baton of Music Director and Conductor Brendan Townsend on December 5, 2011. In 2014 the Laredo Philharmonic, also under the direction of Maestro Townsend performed the expanded edition of this music. Maestro Townsend also conducted this music with the Knox-Galesburg Symphony Orchestra (IL) in March, 2019.

   The performance by the Garden State Philharmonic brought an email from an audience member who Googled me and wrote, requesting a recording. When I asked her to describe the concert (I had been unable to attend), she wrote a lovely letter that I would like to share:

“Picture this.  The Tuesday before the concert Anthony LaGruth addressed our group of seniors.  He brought up the subject of lesser-known music to include in his programs.  Some in the audience didn't like the idea - they said new music is dissonant, unfamiliar, etc.  LaGruth let the matter drop.

The night of the concert I went with friends who had been at the earlier meeting.  As is his practice, Anthony LaGruth addressed the audience - giving a little intro to the pieces we would be hearing.  When he talked about your piece he told us to imagine we were driving through the landscape, hearing birdsong, etc.  After the Egmont Overture as the opening piece, we prepared to hear yours.  My neighbor leaned over to me and said "This is going to stink".

Well, I was blown away.  It is so American in the tradition of Copeland.  The audience exploded in applause and on the bus home everyone was saying how much they enjoyed this "new" music.  I so wish you had been there.

The next day I went on Amazon and BMG to see if I could find your music but no luck.  So then I found your email address in the Program.  I appreciate your offer of a CD.  I fully intended to purchase it.  I do want the catalogue to learn more about your other compositions.  The Yee Haw (?) one sounds like fun.

It is gratifying to see a WOMAN American composer being recognized.

Isn't the internet a miracle?  I look forward to hearing your music.

lorraine w”

For A Beautiful Land

Perusal scores are available to interested conductors.

Please contact the composer to request a score. 

Instrumentation (original edition)

(similar instrumentation to Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, plus one percussion)

Piccolo (doubles 2nd Flute)

2 Flutes

2 Oboes

2 Clarinets in B flat

2 Bassoons

2 Horns in F

Timpani

Percussion: (2 players, minimum)

Crash Cymbals (large and small)

Suspended Cymbals

Snare Drum

Glockenspiel (Orchestra Bells)

Tam Tam (gong)

Triangle

Violin I

Violin II

Viola

Violoncello

Contra Bass

Harp (Optional. Please only use an acoustic harp. Please omit this part if you only have a keyboard harp.)

Duration: 11 minutes, 40 seconds

Instrumentation (brass edition)

Piccolo (doubles 2nd Flute)

2 Flutes

2 Oboes

2 Clarinets in B flat

2 Bassoons

2 Horns in F

2 Trumpets

2 Trombones

Tuba

Timpani

Percussion: (2 players, minimum)

Crash Cymbals (large and small)

Suspended Cymbals

Snare Drum

Glockenspiel (Orchestra Bells)

Tam Tam (gong)

Triangle

Violin I

Violin II

Viola

Violoncello

Contra Bass

Harp (Optional. Please only use an acoustic harp. Please omit this part if you only have a keyboard harp.)

Duration: 11 minutes, 40 seconds

This work was premiered by the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra, Christian Tiemeyer, Music Director and Conductor, on May 4, 1996. It is dedicated to the two most important people in the composer’s life - her husband William S.E. Coleman, and her mother, Marjorie E. Robbins. Thanks go to the Iowa Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Cedar Rapids Symphony for providing the opportunity to the composer to write this symphonic work.

Inquiries concerning performance should be directed to Linda Robbins Coleman

All rights of performance and broadcast are strictly reserved.

Copyright © 1996 by Linda Robbins Coleman. This music is licensed with BMI.

Published by Coleman Creative Services.

My favorite review of all time: