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- Neff, Jerfome
- Jenkins, Joseph
- Jenkins, Gordon
- Fennell, Frederick
Duration: 4 minutes
Description: This brilliant and unusual march-spin-off from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 came about as a result of two composition students (Joseph Jenkins and Jerome Neff) attending Frederick Fennell’s rehearsals of the Eastman Little Symphony. Finding themselves whistling or singing parts of major themes, both young composers had the conviction that the Beethoven Eight also contained great material for a composition in march form, and Fennell’s real love for a good march was an Eastman fact. So they worked in secret, finally giving the gift manuscript to Frederick Fennell when school resumed after the 1950 Christmas Holiday, bearing the only possible title, Pieces of Eight, with a card wishing him a Happy New Year. This edition was freshly edited by Frederick Fennell in 2001.