Hilltop Run

Josh Trentadue

General Info

Year: 2022
Duration: c. 13:50
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: M.O.T.I.F.
Cost: Available Summer 2024

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II-III-IV
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III-IV
B-flat Bass Clarinet I-II
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Bass Saxophone (optional)
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Harp
Piano
Electric Guitar (optional)
Bass Guitar
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Bass Drum
Bongos (2)
Chimes
China Cymbal
Congas (2)
Crotales
Djembe
Drum Set
Glockenspiel
Marimba
Sand Blocks
Splash Cymbal
Suspended Cymbal
Tam-Tam
Tambourine
Tom-Toms (4)
Triangle
Xylophone
Vibraphone
Whip

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

The very first video game I ever remember was Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the SEGA Genesis (or Mega Drive, as it's known in a few other regions). The very first memory I have of a video game was of my mom and dad competing against each other in the multiplayer races featured in that game. I was immediately hooked.

While the Sonic the Hedgehog video game franchise was one that permeated throughout much of my life (for better and for worse), I would eventually become introduced to other platformers such as Freedom Planet, the Mario and Kirby series, and A Hat in Time. All of these games have similar characteristics, each defined in its own way, that represent different elements of the platformer genre -- games that ultimately require split-second decisions that can either make or break a particularly challenging obstacle or passage, a boss battle, a special bonus stage to obtain unique items, or a perfect playthrough. These decisions are especially crucial for the faster-paced adventures, where time isn't necessarily on the player's side.

Hilltop Run is an ode and a love letter to the platformer video games I grew up with and still continue to play to this day. The piece conjures up the imagination of a speedy character blazing through the lush, green, and naturally beautiful landscapes of their home that they always strive to preserve, protect, and defend. They are met with intense challenges during their heroic battles against the villainous foes who strive to destroy and pollute these landscapes for personal gain. However, in the end, it is the heroes of these games who always win, seeking additional and greater adventures on the path that lies ahead.

My sincerest gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Jason Noble and the New York University Wind Symphony for commissioning Hilltop Run; to the consortium members of the Aurora Tapestry Collective's "Let's Play" consortium for supporting this piece and project; to my fellow ATC members Kevin Day, Harrison J. Collins, and Katahj Copley for their encouragement and support; to Katahj for an excellent title for this piece; and finally, to my mom and dad for indulging in my and my siblings' video game interests during our childhood, sparking my creative interests for years to come.

- Program Note by composer

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Media

Audio: Preview recording. MIDI realization

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

New York University Wind Symphony (Josh Trentadue, conductor) - 10 December 2022 *Premiere Performance

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Comets Ablaze! (adaptable ensemble) (2020/2022)
Dancing Fire (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2016/2020)
Ember Skies (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2020/2022)
The Floodgates of the Sky (adaptable ensemble) (2016/2021)
The Golden Pier (adaptable ensemble) (2019/2020)
The Great River Rapid Chase (adaptable ensemble) (2018/2020)
Havana (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2018/2020)
Kaleidoscopic Dances (adaptable ensemble) (2020/2021)
Lightning Round (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2022)
Meditation and Hymn to Nature (Flex instrumentation) (2021)
O rose of May (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2018/2020)
Raindrops in an endless sea of stars (adaptable ensemble) (2020)
Seven Islands (adaptable ensemble) (2020/2022)
Splendid Ridges (adaptable ensemble) (2020/2022)
The Straits of Mackinac (adaptable ensemble) (2017/2020)
To Right Our Wrongs (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2021)

All Wind Works

Anthem for Doomed Youth (2018)
Celestial Voyage (2015)
Comets Ablaze! See: The Grand Ledge Triptych
Concerto for Double Bass and Chamber Ensemble (2018)
Crystal Oscillation (2022)
Dancing Fire (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2016/2020)
Ecstatic Samba (as arranger) (2017/2022)
Electric City (as arranger) (2019/2022)
Ember Skies (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2020/2022)
enter data sequence (as arranger) (2022)
The Floodgates of the Sky (tr. Collins) (2016/2020)
The Floodgates of the Sky (adaptable ensemble) (2016/2021)
The Golden Pier. See: The Michigan Triptych
The Great River Rapid Chase. See: The Michigan Triptych
Havana (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2018/2020)
Hilltop Run (2022)
Kaleidoscopic Dances (2020)
Kaleidoscopic Dances (adaptable ensemble) (2020/2021)
Lightning Round (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2022)
Meditation and Hymn to Nature (2021/2023)
Meditation and Hymn to Nature (Flex instrumentation) (2021)
The Grand Ledge Triptych
- Splendid Ridges (2020)
- Splendid Ridges (adaptable ensemble) (2020/2022)
- Seven Islands (2020)
- Seven Islands (adaptable ensemble) (2020/2022)
- Comets Ablaze! (2020)
- Comets Ablaze! (adaptable ensemble) (2020/2022)
The Michigan Triptych
- The Great River Rapid Chase (2018)
- The Great River Rapid Chase (adaptable ensemble) (2018/2020)
- The Golden Pier (2019)
- The Golden Pier (adaptable ensemble) (2019/2020)
- The Straits of Mackinac (2017)
- The Straits of Mackinac (adaptable ensemble) (2017/2020)
Midnight Skyline (2019). See also: Of Day and Night
O rose of May (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2018/2020)
Nature's Light (2019)
Pumpkin Madness (2023)
Raindrops in an endless sea of stars (adaptable ensemble) (2020)
Seven Islands. See: The Grand Ledge Triptych
Splendid Ridges. See: The Grand Ledge Triptych
The Straits of Mackinac. See: The Michigan Triptych
Summertime Echoes (2019)
Symphony No. 2. See: Pumpkin Madness
Tango Oscuro (as arranger) (2020/2022)
The Undiscovered Country (2018)
A Wild Christmas Nightcap (2020)

Resources

Let's Play consortium website Accessed 2 December 2022