Sound of Silence, The

From Wind Repertory Project
Paul Simon

Paul Simon (arr. James Hosay)


Subtitle: For Symphonic Wind Band and Optional Rock Band


General Info

Year: 1964 / 2018
Duration: c. 3:50
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Pop Song
Publisher: Rundel
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - €70.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute/Piccolo 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-III
Trombone I-II-III
B-flat Flugelhorn I-II
B-flat Tenorhorn
Euphonium
Tuba I-II
Electric Bass
Acoustic and Electric Guitar (optional)
Piano (optional)
Percussion I-II-III, including:

  • Chimes
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Low Toms (2)
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tam-tam
  • Vibraphone
  • Wind Chimes


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

The Sound of Silence, originally The Sounds of Silence, is a song by the American music duo Simon & Garfunkel. The song was written by Paul Simon over several months in 1963 and 1964. A studio audition led to the duo signing a record deal with Columbia Records, and the original 'acoustic' version of the song was recorded in March 1964 at Columbia Studios in New York City and included on their debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. Released on October 19, 1964, the album was a commercial failure and led to the duo disbanding; Simon returned to England, and Art Garfunkel to his studies at Columbia University.

In 1965, the song began to attract airplay at radio stations in Boston, Massachusetts, and throughout Florida. The growing airplay led Tom Wilson, the song's producer, to remix the track, overdubbing electric instruments and drums. This remixed version was released as a single in September 1965.

It was featured in the 1967 film The Graduate and was included on the film's soundtrack album.

- Program Note from Wikipedia


In 2015, the American band Disturbed recorded a cover version of the famous song for their first album after a break of several years. Actually, the band belongs to the genre of hard alternative metal what made the choice of this soft song by Simon and Garfunkel even more striking. The rockers created a gloomy symphonic rock version that also took over the charts in Germany and Austria.

Composer and arranger James Hosay put the powerful cover by Disturbed into a sonorous concert band arrangement, presenting the symbiosis of symphonic and rocking sounds in a fantastic way.

- Program Note from publisher


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • T.C. Roberson High School (Ashville, N.C.) Symphonic Band (James Kirkpatrick, conductor) - 12 May 2021


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources