Hands of Mercy  (6:54)

Grade 4
by Julie Giroux
Premiered at the Kappa Kappa Psi/Tau Beta Sigma Convention
July 24, 2001, Corpus Christi, Texas
With the Composer Conducting

Commissioned by Donna Beth McCormick in honor of
Beta Gamma Chapter members of Tau Beta Sigma, University of Texas, Austin, Texas,
and Patsy Drury Hejl, National President, 1967-1969

In Memory of Grace Victoria Giroux
October 4, 2000 - October 4, 2000

 

Notes to the Conductor

Hands of Mercy is a work in motion, constant motion. There is motion from the chords, melody, counterpoint, dynamics, and most of all from subtle changes in tempo. There are countless "milking" points, some of which I have marked. All moving notes must be brought out. As it turns out, in this piece, those would be almost ALL of the quarter notes.

There are three distinct high points in Hands of Mercy - two ffs and one fff. Each is a little more dramatic and intense than the preceding one, both in terms of the ritards and the overall loudness. The final fff should have the greatest ritard leading up to it and also be the most intense dynamically. I recommend one person per part on the final note and encourage the addition or subtraction of individuals anywhere you feel it is needed. 

- J. G.