ABSTRACT
Throughout his incarceration Cowell continued to write modest works for the amateur instrumentalists in the San Quentin Concert Band. Some of Cowell's works reflect his desire to compose music that was playable and listenable on first exposure as well as his acute versatility and ability to compose for any medium. The musical "postcards" was "Herman's Wedding March", composed just after "Air for Band" and before "Shoonthree". Cowell had recycled discarded manuscript parts for "Quaint Minuet" to notate a new work on the reverse side: Gaelic Symphony, also known as Symphony No. 3 for Band with Strings. One of only two known transcription for wind instruments of another composer's music by Cowell is "Christ lag in Todesbanden". The only other transcription of music of another composer by Cowell is his treatment of the so-called "Military" Polonaise in A Major, Op. 40, No.1, by Frederic Chopin. A prison letter from Cowell to Grainger describes the traditional nature of the work.
