Ancient Voices

Michael Sweeney

Michael Sweeney

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General Info

Year: 1994
Duration: c. 3:40
Difficulty: II (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $45.00   |   Score Only (print) - $5.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute
Oboe
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F
Trombone /Euphonium/Bassoon
Tuba
Percussion I-II

(percussion detail desired)

Players humming and tapping pencils on stands

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Rarely does any single publication have such an effect on band literature as this unique and striking composition from 1994. Individually, the parts are relatively simple. Yet the combined effect is sophisticated and impressive far beyond its easy level. Michael uses a wealth of contemporary devices (including tone clusters, recorders, singing, pencil tapping) to create an aura of prehistoric times.

- Program Note by publisher

Commercial Discography

None discovered thus far.

Media

• Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

• Alabama: Class D
• Georgia: II
• Indiana: ISSMA JUNIOR BAND GROUP III
• Louisiana: I
• Maryland: II
• Michigan: Junior High C
• North Carolina: II
• South Carolina: II
• Tennessee: II
• Virginia: III
• West Virginia: I

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Western Illinois University (Macomb) University Band (Madelyn Garrott, conductor) – 23 April 2019
• SIS (Summerside, PEI) Grade 9 Concert Band (Peter Gallant, Conductor) - March 2016 + Various years beforehand
• Fremont (Calif.) Unified School District Junior High School Honor Band (Nelson Agregado, conductor) – 7 February 2015

Works for Winds by this Composer

Adaptable Music

• Armed Forces on Parade (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2007)
• Black Forest Overture (Flex instrumentation) (1996/2008)
• Born to be Wild (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1968/1990/2006)
• Celtic Air and Dance (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2007/2020)
• The Christmas Song (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1945/2011)
• Christmas Time Is Here (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1965/2003/2020)
• Circle of Life (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1994/2020)
• Down by the Salley Gardens (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2006/2017)
• The Forge of Vulcan (Flex instrumentation) (1997/2013)
• Highlights from "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1968/1994/2018)
• Imperium (Flex instrumentation) (1992/2020)
• Knights of Destiny (Flex instrumentation) (2000/2011)
• Pictures at an Exhibition (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1874/2012)
• Pirates of the Caribbean (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2003/2006)
• Two Movements from "Lincolnshire Posy" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1937/2019)
• West Side Story (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1957/2015)
• White Christmas (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1940/2006)

All Wind Works

• Algona Crossing (2017)
• An American Salute (1989)
• Ancient Voices (1994)
• Armed Forces on Parade (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2007)
• Aztalan (2009)
• Beyond the Seven Hills (1999)
• Black Forest Overture (1996)
• Black Forest Overture (Flex instrumentation) (1996/2008)
• Blue Mambo (2017)
• Born to be Wild (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1968/1990/2006)
• Call of the Champions (as arranger)
• Cayuga Lake Overture
• Celtic Air and Dance (2007)
• Celtic Air and Dance No. 2 (2008)
• Celtic Air and Dance No. 3 (2011)
• Celtic Air and Dance No. 4 (2018)
• Celtic Air and Dance No. 5 (2020)
• Celtic Air and March (2014)
• Celtic Farewell (2016)
• Chester (as arranger) (2020)
• The Christmas Song (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1945/2011)
• Christmas Time Is Here (as arranger)
• Christmas Time Is Here (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Sweeney) (1965/2003/2020)
• Circle of Life (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1994/2020)
• Coldwater Crossing (2010)
• Corinthium
• Crossings in Time (2006)
• Dance of the Spirits (2011)
• Dansbury Run (2013)
• Dialogues (2003)
• Distant Horizons
• Distant Thunder of the Sacred Forest (2003)
• Down by the Salley Gardens (as arranger) (2006)
• Down by the Salley Gardens (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2006/2017)
• Down to the River (as arranger) (2019)
• Due North (2014)
• Earth and Sky (2013)
• Earthdance (2010)
• Emerald Awakening (2012)
• Equinox
• Fanfare and March
• Fanfare and Presto (1998)
• Farandole (as arranger)
• Fires of Mazama
• First Suite in E-flat Themes (as arranger) (2006)
• The Forge of the Vulcan (1997)
• The Forge of Vulcan (Flex instrumentation) (1997/2013)
• Fractures in Time (2017)
• Gates of Orion (1997)
• Great Movie Adventures (as arranger) (2006)
• Half Moon on the Hudson (2007)
• High Water Mark: The Third Day (2002)
• Highlights from "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1968/1994/2018)
• Horkstow Grange from "Lincolnshire Posy" (as arranger)
• Husdon River Run (2020)
• Hymn to the Fallen (as arranger) (1998/2000)
• Imperium (1992)
• Imperium (Flex instrumentation) (1992/2020)
• Irish Rising (as arranger) (2016)
• John Williams: Movie Adventures (as arranger) (1977/1999)
• Kinesis (2004)
• Knights of Destiny (2000)
• Knights of Destiny (Flex instrumentation) (2000/2011)
• Lament and Tribal Dances (2001)
• Last Full Measure (2013)
• Legend of Devil's Lake (2011)
• Legends in the Mist (1996)
• Lincoln Legacy (1999)
• Lisbon from "Lincolnshire Posy" (as adapter) (1937/2017)
• Lost Lady Found (as arranger) (1937/2011)
• Marches of the Armed Forces (as arranger) (1991)
• Memory (as arranger)
• Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (as arranger)
• Moai (2017)
• Monmouth Overture (1999)
• Music from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (as arranger) (1977/2016)
• Mystic Dance
• Night on Bald Mountain (as arranger) (2004)
• Northland Pines (2013)
• On Joyful Wing (2018)
• On the Edge of Tomorrow (2009)
• On the Wings of Swallows (2000)
• Out of the Shadows (2003)
• Paine Mountain Legacy (2020)
• Pantheon (1999)
• Panther Rising (2019)
• Particles (2014)
• Passages (2009)
• The Path Not Taken (2019)
• Pegasus (2001)
• Pictures at an Exhibition (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1874/2012)
• Pirates of the Caribbean (as arranger) (2006)
• Pirates of the Caribbean (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2003/2006)
• Pop and Rock Legends: Music of the Beatles (as arranger) (2010)
• Prelude and Pursuit (2013)
• Quad City Stomp (2008)
• River Rendezvous (2016)
• River of Hope (2009)
• River of the Ancients (2004)
• Rock, River, Tree (2015)
• Root Beer Rag (as arranger) (1974/1981)
• The Royal Tower (2001)
• Rumble on the High Plains (2005)
• Salute to the Duke
• Sawdust City Celebration (2013)
• Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (as arranger) (1967/2007)
• Shenandoah (as arranger) (2003)
• Shorewood Overture (2014)
• Silverbrook (2006)
• A Simple Song (as arranger) (2011)
• Sleepsong (as arranger) (2019)
• Song For Hope (2011)
• Southern Folk Rhapsody (2005)
• Southwind (as arranger) (2015)
• Spirit of Avalon (1998)
• Spring City Overture (2015)
• Stardance (2012)
• Strike Force (2007)
• Suite from "MASS" (as arranger)
• Summon the Heroes (as arranger)
• Swamp Rabbit Stomp (2016)
• Themes from "New World Symphony" (as arranger) (1893)
• To Soar with Eagles (2013)
• Troy! (2009)
• Trumpet Tune (as arranger) (2001)
• Two Movements from "Lincolnshire Posy" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1937/2019)
• Valley of Fire (1998)
• Variants on an American Hymn
• Viking (2016)
• Villages (2014)
• West Side Story (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1957/2015)
• When the Sun Breaks Through the Mist (2006)
• White Christmas (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1940/2006)
• Wildcat Valley Fanfare (2017)
• Wilderness Scenes (2004)
• The Willow Tree (as arranger) (1995/2018)
• Woodland Odyssey (2002)
• Ye Banks and Braes O' Bonnie Doon (as arranger) (1949/2006)
• Year of the Dragon (Sweeney) (2000)

Resources

• Miles, Richard B., and Larry Blocher. (2010). Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 1. Chicago: GIA Publications. pp. 107-113.
• Sweeney, M. (1994). Ancient Voices [score]. Hal Leonard: Milwaukee, Wisc.