November Listening Activity – William Billings’ “Chester”
(~25 minute activity)
As the season turns toward reflection and gratitude, this month’s listening celebrates music that brought people together in early America. Chester, by William Billings (1746–1800), was written to inspire courage and faith during challenging times.
Billings was a self-taught composer and singing-school teacher from Boston who believed that music should belong to everyone. His songs were sung by communities gathered in homes, meeting halls, and churches — ordinary people raising their voices together. Chester became one of his best-loved works, known for its strength, simplicity, and sense of shared purpose.
🎧 Listen to these two versions:
Choral Performance – Chester – University of Maryland Chorus
Listen for the strong, unified sound of group singing — simple, direct, and heartfelt.
Wind Ensemble Arrangement – Chester – The U.S. Marine Band
This arrangement for wind ensemble comes from William Schuman’s larger work, “New England Triptych." Listen first for the slow, beautiful chorale setting of the tune, followed by the faster section which develops melodic ideas of Chester into something brand new. Notice how the wind instruments transform the piece’s energy and color.
🍂 Things to listen for:
The clear, confident melody that invites group participation.
How each version creates a different feeling — communal in the choral version, broad and triumphant in the band setting.
The way rhythm and phrasing give the music a sense of movement and resolve.
💬 Discussion Questions:
What differences do you hear between the choral and instrumental versions?
How does the change from voices to instruments affect the mood?
In the wind ensemble version, how would you describe the emotional change from the slow chorale section, to the faster developmental section?
Which performance do you feel best conveys resilience or perseverance–and why?
How might this piece have helped bring people together when it was first sung?
What musical elements (tempo, articulation, dynamics) give the music its sense of strength and unity?
If you could describe Chester in one word, what would it be?
🌾 Fun Fact:
William Billings often encouraged everyone to sing with energy and conviction in his music books. His compositions helped foster a tradition of community singing that continues today in choirs, shape-note gatherings, and concert halls. The Chester melody has been adapted and reimagined many times, including in Schuman’s New England Triptych, showing how music evolves while keeping its spirit alive.
