Song of the Open Road (wind ensemble set)

Song of the Open Road is a colorful three-section work for solo vibraphone and wind ensemble inspired by Walt Whitman’s poem of the same title. Equally lyrical and virtuosic, this is the perfect opportunity to showcase the talents of a percussion soloist with your ensemble.

Program Notes

Inspired by the first sentences of the poem of Walt Whitman (1819 -1892) Song of the Open Road, where he describes the many choices you can make in your live, the different ways you can take, but at the end you come at the final place you should be.
Part I: Floating on the way to...
Part II: Circling around...
Part III: The way to...

Grade Level: 5
Copyright: 2019
Number of Players: Standard + 1
Duration: 10:00
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Category: Concert Band

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Instrumentation

Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe 1
Oboe 2
English Horn
Bassoon 1
Bassoon 2
Clarinet 1
Clarinet 2
Clarinet 3
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

Trumpet 1
Trumpet 2
F Horn 1
F Horn 2
F Horn 3
F Horn 4
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
TC Baritone
Tuba

Contrabass
Harp

Solo Vibraphone

Timpani (4 drums)
Mallets (Chimes, Xylophone, Glockenspiel)
Percussion 1 (Suspended Cymbal, Snare Drum, Tam-Tam, Surdo [or small bass drum])
Percussion 2 (Mark Tree, Triangle, 2 Woodblocks)