Rumble on the High Plains

Michael Sweeney

General Info

Year: 2005
Duration: c.7:08
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts - $75.00 | Score Only - $10 .00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
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 (9 players), including:

Bass Drums (2: second optional)
Bells
Brake Drums (2)
Cowbell
Crash Cymbals
Gong
Mark Tree
Rainstick
Shakers
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Timbales
Tom-toms (2)
Trash Can (metal)
Triangle
Vibraphone
Wood Block
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Commissioned by the Pratt, Kansas High School Band, the composition explores that state's tumultuous storms across the plains, as well as emotional and civil storms from the early days of statehood. Filled with bold statements and unparalleled rhythmic vitality (including a percussion “duel”), the final dramatic and uplifting segment is a tribute to the perseverance and triumph of the human spirit.

- Program Note from publisher

Rumble on the High Plains draws its inspiration from events and characteristics related to the state of Kansas, both past and present. Commissioned by the Pratt High School Band, directed by Don Buhler, descriptive scenarios were suggested by students in the band. These along with ideas from the composer are listed below and offer a wide variety of possible correlations to the work "rumble" as it related to this piece of music.

Approach and passing of a thunderous storm on the plains
Thunder of buffalo herds in early times
Covered wagons cross the prairie landscape
Civil and political unrest dividing the state in the 1800s
Expansion of the railroads rumbling westward
Low roar of B-29 war planes serviced in Pratt during WWII
Distant rumble of combines and trucks as fields of wheat are harvested
Underlying pioneer spirit of perseverance, triumph and celebration

However, the music itself stans on its own and does not seek to portray any specific setting or event. The vibrant and exhilarating nature of the composition is sure to evoke images and emotions, but the specifics are purposely left to the imagination of the listener.

- Program note from Carmel High School Wind Symphony I concert program, 14 December 2005

Commissioned by the Pratt (KS.) H.S. Band, Don Buhler, Director.

- Program Note from score

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: Carmel High School Wind Symphony I (Richard Saucedo, conductor) - 2005

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Riverside High School (Painesville, Ohio) Wind Ensemble (David A. Schwartz, conductor) - 14 May 2019
Hanford (Calif.) West High School Symphonic Band (Lisa Butts, conductor) - 21 March 2014 (2014 Sutherland Wind Festival, Fresno, Calif.)
NCAIS (N.C.) Honor Band (Charles Dwayne Wilson, conductor) - 2009
Carmel (Ind.) High School Wind Symphony I (Richard Saucedo, conductor) – 14 December 2005 (2005 Midwest Clinic)

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 (2006)
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) (1965)
Christmas Time Is Here (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Sweeney) (1965/2003/2020)
Circle of Life (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1994/2020)
Coldwater Crossing (2010)
Corinthium (1994)
Crossings in Time (2006)
Dance of the Spirits (2011)
Dansbury Run (2013)
Dialogues (2003)
Distant Horizons (1995)
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 (1993)
Fanfare and March (2004)
Fanfare and Presto (1998)
Farandole (as arranger)
Fires of Mazama (2005)
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)
Gathering in the Glen (2010)
Great Movie Adventures (as arranger) (2006)
Half Moon on the Hudson (2007)
A Hard Day's Night. See: Selections from "A Hard Day's Night"
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)
Hudson 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 ''Les Misérables" (as arranger) (1980/1998)
Music from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (as arranger) (1977/2016)
Mystic Dance (1999)
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 (1999)
Sawdust City Celebration (2013)
Selections from "A Hard Day's Night" (as arranger) (1964/1999)
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)
Swing the Mood (as arranger) (1990)
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 (2000)
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 (2000)

Resources

Sweeney, M. (2005). Rumble on the High Plains [score]. Musicworks: Milwaukee, Wisc.