commentary to opus 81f

Three Hummel Figurines (Three Warm-up chorals) (1986/87)

I. Tier (Animal)

II. Phönix (Phoenix)

III. Schöne (Belle)

Dedication: I. Dedicated to SOSC Band II. Dedicated to WIBC III. Dedicated to Nell McKee

Duration: 9 Minutes

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Score
I.	II.	III.
Parts
I.	II.	III.

In 1978 I was in Oregon (USA) on the occasion of the première of my Symphony for large Wind Orchestra, op. 67, which had been commissioned by the conductor Max McKee. During this visit, I made the conductor and his wife presents in the form of short compositions for wind orchestra. They immediately asked: 'Can we call these pieces "Hummel Figurines"'? These Hummel Figurines were so much in fashion in America at that time that I was constantly being asked if I was perhaps related to their "inventor", Berta Hummel. I had to deny any relationship, but agreed out of curiosity to the name. The pieces are - according to reports - often played in the USA.

Bertold Hummel (January, 1998)

Three Hummel Figurines were composed between May 1986 and November 1987 by Würzburg Conservatory President, Bertold Hummel. Each was originally intended as a warm-up chorale for band, the first in May 1986 and dedicated to "to Max McKee and my SOSCWATCH friends in Ashland, Oregon." (SOSCWATCH is the named adopted by the Southern Oregon State CollegeAlumni Association as a play on the famous sasquatch which roams the hidden by-ways of the Pacific Northwest. Professor Hummel had composed his Oregon Sinfonie in 1978 for SOSCWATCH and attended the premiere performances.) Chorale #1 was premiered by the SOSC Symphonic Band in November 1986.

The second chorale was composed in May 1987 and is dedicated to Western International Band Clinic. It was premiered by the Southern Oregon State College Symphonie Band in November of that year.

The last one was written in November 1987 just prior to the composer's guest conductor appearance of the Western International Band Clinic Directors' Band in Seattle, Washington. It is dedicated to Nelwyn McKee and was premiered by the WIBC International High School Honor Band (under Dr. Larry Sutherland, California State University, Fresno) on Sunday, November 22.
The other two chorales were performed on the same concert under the baton of the composer with the WIBC Directors' Band.

M. Max McKee

Bertold Hummel´s Three Hummel Figurines, which have appeared in various issues of Bandworld, were composed between May 1986 and November 1987. The first, composed in May 1986 was dedicated "to Max McKee and my SOSCWATCH friends in Ashland, Oregon." (SOSCWATCH was the name adopted by the then Southern Oregon State College Band Alumni Association as a play on the word sasquatch). It was premiered in concert by the SOU Symphonic Band in November 1986. The second choral was composed in May 1987 and was dedicated to Western International Band Clinic (hence the title Phönix, the image of which serves as the logo of WIBC). It was premiered by the Symphonic Band in November of that year. The last one was written in November 1987 just prior to the composer's guest conductor appearance of the WIBC Directors' Band in Seattle, Washington. It is dedicated to Nelwyn McKee and was premiered by the WIBC International Honor Band (under Dr. Larry Sutherland, California State University, Fresno). The other two chorales were performed on the same concert under the baton of the composer with the WIBC Directors' Band.

Bandworld Magazine, Ashland