Search for the Lost Colony
General Info
Year: 2013
Duration: c. 4:40
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: C. Alan
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $65.00 | Score Only (print) - $12.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo/Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F
Trombone I-II
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:
- Bass Drum
- Claves
- Conch Shell
- Crash Cymbals
- Maracas
- Tom-Tom
- Wind Chimes
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
In August of 1587, a group of about 115 English settlers arrived on Roanoke Island, near what is now Manteo, North Carolina. The governor of the colony, John White, sailed back to England later that year for supplies. Unfortunately for the colony, a major naval war had broken out between England and Spain and there were no ships available to White for his trip back. When he finally returned in August 1590, White found no trace of the settlers and only one clue-the word “Croatan” carved into a wooden post. The colony had been dismantled and there were no signs of a struggle.
Although there has been no answer to the mystery of the Lost Colony, many believe the colonists were forced to live with some of the local tribes because of food shortages and lack of supplies. They may have moved further mainland and been absorbed by a friendly tribe or killed by local Native Americans. Other hypotheses include death by the Spaniards or being lost at sea in an attempt to return to England.
Search For the Lost Colony begins with a single note played on a conch shell. The sound of the conch horn symbolizes the calling out for the settlers by John White and his men when they returned to Roanoke Island. Subsequent calls are played by flute, horn and trombone. The ominous low melody in the clarinets brings to mind the men looking for but not finding any sign of life on the island.
At measure 30, the music becomes hectic and furious, depicting the hardships the colonists must have faced while Smith was gone. Without supplies or food, they were at the mercy of the weather, their luck with fishing and gardening, and the Native Americans. The horn calls return amid the frantic combination of themes and the piece comes to a final conclusion as John Smith and his men realize the settlers are gone.
- Program Note from publisher
Commissioned by the William Lenoir Middle School Bands, Lenoir, North Carolina, Terry Reid, conductor.
- Program Note from score
Media
State Ratings
- Indiana: ISSMA JUNIOR BAND GROUP I
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Hickory Ridge High School (Harrisburg, N.C.) Wind Ensemble (Chris White, conductor) – 31 March 2018
- University of Wisconsin-Superior Tri-State Black Honor Band (Ed Kiefer, conductor) – Spring 2014
Works for Winds by This Composer
Adaptable Music
- Five-Note Jive (Flex instrumentation) (2014/2020)
- God Rest Ye Merry, Peeps (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2020)
- New World Breakdown (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1893/2012/2020)
All Wind Works
- 7 Hills March (2020)
- Always Blooming (2017)
- The Anguish of Nosferatu (2014)
- Arabian Fire Dance (2012)
- Arabian Processional (2013)
- Bluegrass Rondeau (2013)
- Captive (2016)
- Cathedral Bell Fantasy (as arranger) (2020)
- Chips and Salsa (2016)
- Chips, and Salsa Too (2019)
- Circle in a Square (2013)
- Conquering Spirit (2009)
- Courage of the Cossacks (2017)
- Croatian Warrior (2018)
- Dancin' at the Great Gate (as arranger) (2012)
- Day on the Prairie (2019)
- Deep Winter's Night (2020)
- Escape (2011)
- Factory Child (2018)
- Five-Note Jive (Flex instrumentation) (2014/2020)
- God Rest Ye Merry, Peeps (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2020)
- Hammer of the Gods (2014)
- Haunting Old Mountain Melody (2020)
- Hip Hop Hallelujah (as arranger) (2012)
- Huguenots (2009)
- Humble Heart (2018)
- An Irish Legend (2012)
- Journey of the Spanish Buccaneers (2018)
- Lanigan's Ball (2016)
- March in the Shadows (2010)
- March of the Clowns (2019)
- Mountain Dance (2008)
- New World Breakdown (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1893/2012/2020)
- Orpheus in the Urbanworld (as arranger) (2013)
- Rain and Snow on the Cedar Cliffs (2015)
- Rejoice (2013)
- Resignation (2018)
- The Rocky Road to Dublin (as. Arranger) (c. 1870/2023)
- Search for the Lost Colony (2013)
- Soar High (2019)
- Thumpin' With the Good King (as arranger) (2013)
- Whitewater Run (2014)
- Wildfire! (2011)
Resources
- Kiefer, E. (2013). Search for the Lost Colony [score]. C. Alan Publications: Greensboro, N.C.