Annie’s Gone Home

SKU: CF.FAS108

ISBN 9781491151396. UPC: 680160908899. 9 x 12 inches. Key: D major.

Annie's Gone Home, composed in the style of a spiritual, was written as a tribute to composer Bud Woodruff's mother. The tune is built on phrases of easily understandable material, but the poignant nature of the piece is marked with profundity. From the subtle bass solo to the emotional high points, the piece is inspired by this strong woman in the life of the composer.

Annies Gone Home is a tribute to my Mother, Annette Fenner Hains (19232017). Her siblings and cousins always called her Annie. She loved music, and her influence was the primary inspiration for me to go into music. Her tastes were wildly diverse, loving everything from symphonic music to Country/Western, to various styles of folk music, to pop, to marches, but she had a very tender spot for hymns and spirituals.

While it is easy to interpret grief in this music, and its presence is undeniable, it is really intended more as a song of the ultimate triumph of goodness. In her wisdom, she was able to capture deep thoughts within simple phrases, which I have also tried to capture. Her life was one of frequent struggles, yet she was inspiring to many. She emerged from every difficulty, never unscathed, but always victorious, with clear eyes and head held high, until her last battle, which brought about her greatest victory. This sentiment is what I tried to capture. If too slow a tempo is taken, that feeling is lost and a sense of grief takes over. That may be what a conductor wants to convey, but is not what I intended.

Annieas Gone HomeA is a tribute to my Mother, Annette Fenner Hains (1923a2017). Her siblings and cousins always called her aAnnie.a She loved music, and her influence was the primary inspiration for me to go into music. Her tastes were wildly diverse, loving everything from symphonic music to Country/Western, to various styles of folk music, to pop, to marches, but she had a very tender spot for hymns and spirituals.

While it is easy to interpret grief in this music, and its presence is undeniable, it is really intended more as a song of the ultimate triumph of goodness. In her wisdom, she was able to capture deep thoughts within simple phrases, which I have also tried to capture. Her life was one of frequent struggles, yet she was inspiring to many. She emerged from every difficulty, never unscathed, but always victorious, with clear eyes and head held high, until her last battle, which brought about her greatest victory. This sentiment is what I tried to capture. If too slow a tempo is taken, that feeling is lost and a sense of grief takes over. That may be what a conductor wants to convey, but is not what I intended.

Annieas Gone HomeA is a tribute to my Mother, Annette Fenner Hains (1923a2017). Her siblings and cousins always called her aAnnie.a She loved music, and her influence was the primary inspiration for me to go into music. Her tastes were wildly diverse, loving everything from symphonic music to Country/Western, to various styles of folk music, to pop, to marches, but she had a very tender spot for hymns and spirituals.

While it is easy to interpret grief in this music, and its presence is undeniable, it is really intended more as a song of the ultimate triumph of goodness. In her wisdom, she was able to capture deep thoughts within simple phrases, which I have also tried to capture. Her life was one of frequent struggles, yet she was inspiring to many. She emerged from every difficulty, never unscathed, but always victorious, with clear eyes and head held high, until her last battle, which brought about her greatest victory. This sentiment is what I tried to capture. If too slow a tempo is taken, that feeling is lost and a sense of grief takes over. That may be what a conductor wants to convey, but is not what I intended.

Annie's Gone Home is a tribute to my Mother, Annette Fenner Hains (1923-2017). Her siblings and cousins always called her Annie. She loved music, and her influence was the primary inspiration for me to go into music. Her tastes were wildly diverse, loving everything from symphonic music to Country/Western, to various styles of folk music, to pop, to marches, but she had a very tender spot for hymns and spirituals.

While it is easy to interpret grief in this music, and its presence is undeniable, it is really intended more as a song of the ultimate triumph of goodness. In her wisdom, she was able to capture deep thoughts within simple phrases, which I have also tried to capture. Her life was one of frequent struggles, yet she was inspiring to many. She emerged from every difficulty, never unscathed, but always victorious, with clear eyes and head held high, until her last battle, which brought about her greatest victory. This sentiment is what I tried to capture. If too slow a tempo is taken, that feeling is lost and a sense of grief takes over. That may be what a conductor wants to convey, but is not what I intended.