River of the Ancients

Michael Sweeney

Michael Sweeney

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General Info

Year: 2004
Duration: c. 7:35
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $60.00   |   Score Only (print) - $10.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
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-IV

(percussion detail needed)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

For thousands of years, the Nile River has remained a stable and life-giving presence in the land of Egypt. Throughout the piece, the music depicts dances of celebration, awe-inspiring pyramids, invasions and conquest over foreign armies. Brief solos with delicate accompaniments counterbalance bold themes and powerful percussion statements in this substantial work for young bands. An element of rhythmic vitality is pervasive throughout, representing the steady and constant flow of this mighty river of life.

- Program Note by publisher

Commercial Discography

None discovered thus far.

Media

• Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

• Michigan: Senior High C
• Tennessee: IV
• West Virginia: III

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Arkansas Winds Community Concert Band (Springdale) (Michael Ferguson, conductor) - 23 April 2016
• Northwood High School (Irvine, Calif.) Concert Band - Spring 2012

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 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. (2004). River of the Ancients [score]. Music Works: Milwaukee, Wisc.