By the River's Bend

Warren Barker

General Info

Year: 1993
Duration: c. 7:40
Difficulty: III-1/2 (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: C.L. Barnhouse Company
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $60.00 | Score Only (print) - $7.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

Bass Drum
Bell Tree
Bells
Chimes
Crash Cymbals
Snare Drum
Tam-tam
Thunder Sheet
Vibraphone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

At the dawn of a new day by the river's band, a songbird greets the rising sun. A gentle wafting of the breeze is felt as the river ebbs and flows toward its final end. The wind changes, without warning, and increases its fury, bringing lightning, thunder and heavy rainfall. As the story slowly subsides, the river once again becomes calm and free from disturbance. Suddenly, the sun breaks through with a glorious light and the river winds its way until night falls, and once again, all is peaceful and serene.

Commissioned by friends, family and his wife, Nancy, and dedicated in memory of a great teacher and musician, Wesley Shephard.

- Program Note from score

This melodic tone poem was commissioned in memory of Wesley Shephard (a local band director) by his wife, family and friends. John Koehler and the Evansville (Indiana) Symphonic Band premiered the work at the local Mesker Music Theatre on June 14, 1992.

The music depicts the changes of nature during a day by the Ohio River, which flows by Evansville. The four distinct sections are titled Daylight, The Storm, The Calm, and Nightfall.

- Program Note from Program Notes for band

Media

Audio: Reference recording. The Washington Winds (Edward S. Petersen, conductor)
Audio CD: The Washington Winds (Edward S. Petersen, conductor) – 1994

State Ratings

Alabama: Class B
Mississippi: V-A
Oklahoma: III-A
Tennessee: IV
Virginia: IV

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

McAllen (Tx.) Wind Ensemble (Roger Olivares, conductor) - 10 May 2022
Encore Concert Band (Mokena, Ill.) (William Schuetter, conductor) – 21 October 2018
Victoria Winds (Samuel Lee, conductor) – 2012

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Danny Boy (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Clark) (1991/2010)

All Wind Works

All Things Bright and Beautiful (1999)
Blue Moon (as arranger)
Brazilliance! (1981)
Bricusse and Newley on Broadway (as arranger)
Broadway Show-Stoppers Overture (as arranger) (1983)
But Not for Me (as arranger) (1930/1995/2006)
By the River's Bend (1993)
Capital Square March (1997)
Capriccio (Barker) (1988)
A Christmas Serenade (as arranger) (1995)
A Chorus Line" Spectacular! (as arranger)
Cole Porter on Broadway (as arranger)
Concertino for Clarinet and Band (2000)
Danny Boy (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Clark) (1991/2010)
Deir in De (1990)
Do You Hear What I Hear? (as arranger) (1962/)
Embraceable You (as arranger)
Fanfare Variations (1986)
Fantasia for Winds and Percussion (1992)
Foggy River Blues (1988)
From Sea to Shining Sea (as arranger) (2001)
A Galop to End All Galops (1977)
Gershwin! (as arranger) (1997)
Hollywood! (as arranger)
Hooray for Hollywood (as arranger) (2001)
How Long Has This Been Going On? (as arranger) (1927/2000)
I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day (as arranger) (1995)
In the Miller Mood (as arranger) (1997)
Inverrary (1983)
Ireland (as arranger) (1997)
An Irish Air for Winds
An Irish Interlude (1986)
An Irving Berlin Christmas (as arranger)
It's Christmas! (1989/2011)
Jerome Robbins Broadway (as arranger)
La Belle Americana (1986)
The Magic of Andrew Lloyd Webber (as arranger)
Magic of Disney (as arranger)
Midnight in Bethlehem (1998)
New York: 1927 (2000)
Overture A La Russe (1989)
Patriotic Pageantry (as arranger) (1983)
Ramsgate March (1978)
'S Wonderful (as arranger) (1919/1996)
Salute to Bob Hope (as arranger) (1980)
Scherzo for Saxophone Quartet (1954/1982)
Selections from "Les Misérables" (as arranger) (1980/1987)
Silverado (as arranger) (1985/1987)
Sousa! (as arranger)
Strike Up the Band (as arranger) (1927/1981)
Swing's the Thing (as arranger) (1999)
That's Entertainment (as arranger)
Themes Like Old Times (as arranger) (1991)
Themes Like Old Times II (as arranger)
Themes Like Old Times III (as arranger)
Transformations (1985)
Victory Spirit March (2000)
Witch's Dance (2001)

Resources

Barker, W. (1993). By the River's Bend [score]. Birch Island Music Press: Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Perusal score
Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications, pp. 36.