An Analytical and Educational Survey of Howard Hanson's Dies ...

15Chapter 2: Dies NatalisDies Natalis OverviewDies Natalisfor Band was composed by Howard Hanson in 1972 and publishedthrough Carl Fischer in 1973. Occasionally, the work is referred to as Dies Natalis IIbecause itis the wind band version of Hanson's 1967 Dies Natalis for orchestra. CarlFischer lists the title Dies Natalisfor Band in the published score. The CentennialCommission of Nebraska commissioned the orchestral version; the wind band versionwas not written on commission (Cohen, 2004).Dies Natalisfor Band is dedicated to Donald Hunsberger and the Eastman WindEnsemble. The Eastman Wind Ensemble premiered the work under the baton of DonaldHunsberger on April 7,1972 in the Eastman Theatre in Rochester. Hanson wrote theband version of Dies Natalis two to three years prior to the Eastman premiere for acommission that was not completed, and subsequently approached Dr. Hunsberger andthe Eastman Wind Ensemble to premiere the work (Hunsberger, personalcommunication, April 15, 2010). The premiere concert was conducted as part of the 50anniversary celebration of the Eastman School of Music, the meeting of the EasternDivision of the College Band Directors National Association, and the Third NationalWind Ensemble Conference (Cipolla & Hunsberger, 1994).The overall form of the work consists of an introduction, chorale, five variations,and a finale. The orchestral version has two additional variations. Hanson's specificreasons for excluding them in the band arrangement are unknown, though technicalchallenges may be the most logical explanation. Both excluded variations are impressivefor strings, but may present a more difficult challenge for wind tessituras. Additionally,