On the Wings of Swallows

Michael Sweeney

Michael Sweeney

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General Info

Year: 2000
Duration: c. 6:05
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $65.00   |   Score Only (print) - $7.50

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo/Flute
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
Trombone I-II
Euphonium
Tuba/String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III

(percussion detail needed)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Taking its title from a quote by Shakespeare's Richard III -- “True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings” -- the composition is a multi-styled piece that moves through a series of "through-composed" sections, avoiding the usual ABA overture style. A distinctively rich, contemporary harmonic structure creates exceptional appeal, and serves to unify the various segments of the work. The various melodic motives are all instantly attractive, and the percussion writing is thoughtfully used to enhance the music rather than just provide energy.

- Program Note by publisher

Commissioned by the North Syracuse (NY) School District in memory of band member Pat Hays.

- Program Note from score

Commercial Discography

None discovered thus far.

Media

• Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

• Kansas: III
• Michigan: Junior High B
• Mississippi: III-A
• North Carolina: IV
• Tennessee: III
• West Virginia: III

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Osmond (Neb.) Community Schools Concert Band (Jerrold Heide, conductor) – 4 March 2014

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)
• 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

• American Salute, An (1989)
• Ancient Voices (1994)
• Armed Forces on Parade (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2007)
• 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)
• Celtic Air and Dance (2007)
• Celtic Air and Dance No. 3 (2011)
• 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)
• Crossings in Time (2006)
• Dansbury Run (2013)
• Dialogues (2003)
• 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)
• Earthdance (2010)
• 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)
• Great Movie Adventures (as arranger) (2006)
• Highlights from "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1968/1994/2018)
• Horkstow Grange from "Lincolnshire Posy" (as arranger)
• Hymn to the Fallen (as arranger) (1998/2000)
• John Williams: Movie Adventures (as arranger) (1977/1999)
• Knights of Destiny (2000)
• Knights of Destiny (Flex instrumentation) (2000/2011)
• Lament and Tribal Dances (2001)
• Last Full Measure (2013)
• 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)
• Monmouth Overture (1999)
• Music from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (as arranger) (1977/2016)
• Northland Pines (2013)
• On Joyful Wing (2018)
• On the Wings of Swallows (2000)
• 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 of Hope (2009)
• River of the Ancients (2004)
• Rock, River, Tree (2015)
• Root Beer Rag (as arranger) (1974/1981)
• Rumble on the High Plains (2005)
• Salute to the Duke
• Sawdust City Celebration (2012)
• Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (as arranger) (1967/2007)
• Sleepsong (as arranger) (2019)
• Stardance
• Suite from "MASS" (as arranger)
• Swamp Rabbit Stomp (2016)
• Themes from "New World Symphony" (as arranger) (1893)
• To Soar with Eagles (2013)
• Troy! (2009)
• Two Movements from "Lincolnshire Posy" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1937/2019)
• 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)
• The Willow Tree (as arranger) (1995/2018)
• Year of the Dragon (Sweeney) (2000)
• Ye Banks and Braes O' Bonnie Doon (as arranger) (2006)

Resources

• Sweeney, M. (2000). On the Wings of Swallows [score]. Hal Leonard: Milwaukee, Wisc.