Viktor's Tale

John Williams

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Subtitle: From The Terminal

General Info

Year: 2004 / 2009
Duration: c. 4:05
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $195.00 | Score Only (print) - $25.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet Solo
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-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Harp
Accordion
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III

(percussion detail desired)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Williams’ score for the Steven Spielberg film The Terminal starring Tom Hanks employs an evocative world music style one might imagine could come from the fictitious country from which Hanks’ colorful character hails. Part drama, part comedy, the film follows the protagonist as he finds himself a man without a country, stuck in an airport terminal for days on end. Williams’ creative score brings to life this unusual and unfortunate circumstance and includes a musical portrait of the main character played by Hanks, whose name is Viktor Navorski. The composer

described his process:

In the story, Viktor left his home in an imaginary Eastern European country, arriving at a U.S. airport where his adventures began. To portray Viktor’s warmth and friendliness, I decided to write a dance-like piece for clarinet and orchestra that would capture something of his colorful ethnic background.

The clarinet solo in Williams’ music for The Terminal marries the composer’s skill in writing for individual solo instruments with his unparalleled excellence in film composition.

- Program Note from U.S. Marine Band concert program, 2 June 2022

As in the original soundtrack from The Terminal, a featured solo clarinet is used to portray the warmth and friendliness of the main character, Viktor Navorsky. This appealing dance-like composition also captures something of his colorful ethnic background.

- Program Note from publisher

The Terminal was a 2004 motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg. An Eastern immigrant named Viktor Navorski (played by Tom Hanks) reaches JFK airport from a politically unstable country. Due to collapse of his government, his papers are no longer valid in the airport, and hence he is forced to stay in the airport till the war cools down. He makes the airport his home and develops a friendship with the people who work there until he finally has to leave.

- Program Note from IMDB

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: VanderCook College of Music Symphonic Band (Charles T. Menghini, conductor; Eddie Vanoosthuyse, clarinet) - 2004

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Cornell College (Mt. Vernon, Iowa) Wind Ensemble (Joshua W. Neuenschwaner, conductor; R. Joseph Dieker, clarinet) - 29 April 2023
Kansas State University (Manhattan) Wind Ensemble (Frank Tracz, conductor; Amy Guffey, clarinet) - 21 January 2023
North Dakota State University (Fargo) Wind Symphony (Warren Olfert, conductor; Breanna Olson, clarinet) - 16 October 2022
University of Georgia (Athens) Hodgson Wind Ensemble (Jaclyn Hartenberger, conductor; Ray McClellan, clarinet) - 11 October 2022
United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Darren Lin, conductor; Shannon Kiewitt, clarinet) - 2 June 2022
Nicholls State University (Thibodaux, La.) Wind Ensemble (Jason Ladd, conductor) – 24 October 2019
Appalachia: A Southeastern Wind Symphony (Knoxville, Tenn.) (Logan Campbell, conductor; Holly Tumblin, clarinet) - 21 September 2019
Henderson State University (Arkadelphia, Ark.) Symphony Band (Shaun R. Popp, conductor; Steven Becraft, clarinet) - 1 May 2019
Western Reserve Community Band (Hudson, Ohio) (Ralph Meyer, conductor; George Cyphers, clarinet) – 16 March 2019
Colleyville (Tex.) Middle School Honors Band (Lauren Jones, conductor; Gary Whitman, clarinet) - 19 December 2018 (2018 Midwest Clinic)
Dallas (Tx.) Winds (Jerry Junkin, conductor; Deborah Fabian, clarinet) – 27 March 2018
University of Nebraska (Lincoln) Symphonic Band (Anthony Falcone, conductor; Diane Barger, clarinet) – 7 December 2017
United States Army Band (Ft. Myer, Va.) (Timothy J. Holtan, conductor; Adam Ebert, clarinet) – 19 May 2016
Toronto (Ont., Can.) Youth Wind Orchestra (Colin Clarke, conductor; Jonathan Wong, clarinet) - 6 May 2016
Dallas (Tx.) Winds (Jerry Junkin, conductor) – 19 April 2016
City of Fairfax (Va.) Band (Robert Pouliot, conductor; Dennis Strawley, clarinet) - 19 March 2016
Koninklijke Muziekkapel Brandweer Dendermonde (Belgium) (Patrick Heirbaut, conductor; Jeroen Callaert, clarinet) – March 2016
VanderCook College of Music (Chicago, Ill.) Symphonic Band (Charles T. Menghini, conductor; Eddie Vanoosthuyse, clarinet) – 17 December 2004 (2004 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Great Movie Adventures (arr. Sweeney) (Flex instrumentation) (2006)
Highlights from "Jurassic Park" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (1993)
Raiders March (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Lavender) (1981/2017)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (2016)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Murtha) (2017)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (2019)

All Wind Works

The Adventures of Han (arr. Lavender) (2018)
The Adventures of Mutt (arr. Lavender) (2008)
Adventures on Earth (tr. Lavender) (1982/2007)
America ... The Dream Goes On (arr. Higgins and Lavender) (1982/1985/1989)
American Journey (arr. Lavender) (1999/2012)
The Asteroid Field (tr. Lavender and Nowlin) (1980/)
At the Movies with John Williams (arr. Justin Williams) (2016)
Call of the Champions (arr. Moss) (2002)
Cantina Band (arr. Kalver) (1977/2014)
Catch Me If You Can (arr. Bocook) (2011)
Chillers and Thrillers (arr. Moss) (2006)
The Complete Harry Potter (arr. Brubaker) (2013)
Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra (arr. Lavender) (1988/2016)
Coronation March from "Star Wars" (arr. Burden) (1977/1978)
The Cowboys (arr. Curnow) (1972)
The Cowboys (Grade III) (arr. Bocook) (1972)
The Cowboys (Grade V) (arr. Bocook) (1972/2007)
Dance of the Witches (arr. Lavender) (1987)
Dartmoor, 1912 (arr. Bocook) (2011)
Duel of the Fates (arr. Story) (1999)
The Empire Strikes Back (tr. Bullock) (1980)
Escapades (arr. Bulla) (2002/2012)
Excerpts from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (arr. Bulla) (1978/2009)
Excerpts from "Far and Away" (arr. Lavender) (1992/1996)
Fanfare for Fenway (2012)
Fanfare from E.T. The Extraterrestrial (arr. Lavender) (1982)
Flight to Neverland (arr. Lavender) (1991/2016)
Flying Theme (tr. Lavender) (1982)
For New York (arr. Lavender) (1988/)
For the President's Own (2013)
Great Movie Adventures (arr. Sweeney) (Flex instrumentation) (2006)
Harry Potter Symphonic Suite (arr. Smith) (2001)
Harry's Wondrous World (arr. Brubaker) (2003)
Harry's Wondrous World (arr. Lavender) (2006)
Helena's Theme (tr. Lavender) (2022)
Highlights from "Harry Potter" (arr. Story) (2001)
Highlights from "Hook" (arr. Bernaerts) (1991/2005)
Highlights from "Hook" (arr. Heide) (1995)
Highlights from "Jurassic Park" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (1993)
Highlights from "Return of the Jedi" (arr. Jennings; orch. Lavender) (1983)
Hogwarts Forever (2001)
Home Alone 2, Lost in New York (arr. Lavender)
A Home Alone Christmas (arr. Lavender) (1990/2006)
Hooray for Hollywood (as arranger; tr. Bocook)
A Hymn to New England (arr. Lavender)
Hymn to the Fallen (arr. Lavender) (1998/1999)
Hymn to the Fallen (arr. Sweeney) (1998/2000)
The Imperial March (tr. Bulla) (1980/2008)
Indiana Jones Selection (arr. Heide) (1981/2007)
Jaws (arr. Steven Walker) (1975/2004)
Jedi Steps and Finale. See: Suite from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
John Williams: Evening at Pops (arr. Higgins) (1987)
John Williams: A Fantasy of Flight (arr. Smith) (2002)
John Williams in Concert (arr. Lavender) (1992)
John Williams: The Symphonic Marches (arr. Higgins; orch. Lavender) (1984)
John Williams: Symphonic Soundtracks (arr. Moss) (2001)
John Williams Swings (arr. Bocook) (2011)
Jurassic Park Soundtrack Highlights (arr. Lavender) (1993)
Liberty Fanfare (arr. Curnow) (1986/2002)
Liberty Fanfare (arr. Bocook) (1986/2010)
Liberty Fanfare (arr. Lavender) (1986/)
Lincoln (arr. Bocook) (2013)
The March from "1941" (arr. Lavender)
March of the Resistance. See: Suite from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
Men of the Yorktown (arr. Lavender)
Midway March (arr. Lavender) (1976/2010)
Midway March (arr Curnow) (1976/1990)
Midway March (arr. Moss) (1976/1994)
The Mission Theme (arr. Lavender) (1987)
Music for Brass (2014)
Music from "Lincoln" (tr. Lavender) (2013)
Music from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (arr. Sweeney) (1977/2016)
Olympic Fanfare and Theme (arr. Curnow) (1984)
The Olympic Spirit (1988)
The Olympic Spirit (tr. Bocook) (1988/1996)
The Olympic Spirit (tr. Rose) (1988)
The Olympic Spirit (arr. Curnow) (1988)
Olympics: A Centennial Celebration (arr. Moss) (1996)
Out to Sea and the Shark Cage Fugue (arr. Bocook) (1975/2011)
Out of This World (arr. Bocook) (1999)
Parade of the Slave Children (arr. Walker) (1984/1997/2002)
The Patriot (arr. Lavender) (2000/2015)
The Patriot (arr. Moss) (2000/2001)
A Prayer for Peace (arr. Moss) (2006)
Princess Leia's Theme (tr. Lavender and Nowlin) (1977/)
Quidditch (2001)
Raiders March (tr. Lavender) (1981/2004)
Raiders March (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Lavender) (1981/2017)
Raiders of the Lost Ark Medley (arr. Bullock) (1981)
The Rebellion Is Reborn (arr. Bocook) (2017)
Revenge of the Sith. See: Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith
Rey's Theme (arr. Lavender). See: Suite from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
Rey's Theme (arr. Torskangerpoll) (2015)
Rey's Theme (arr. Vinson) (2015/2016)
The Rise of Skywalker. See: Soundtrack Highlights from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"
Scherzo for Motorcycle and Band (arr. Lavender)
Scherzo for X-Wings. See: Suite from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
Selections from "E.T." (The Extra-Terrestrial) (arr. Cacavas) (1982/2002)
Selections from "Home Alone" (arr. Lavender) (1990/1992)
Selections from "Superman Returns" (arr. Lopez) (2006)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (2016)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Murtha) (2017)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (2019)
Selections from the "Star Wars" Saga (arr. Story) (1977/2006)
Sinfonietta
Soaring with John Williams (arr. Smith) (2007)
Somewhere in My Memory (arr. Moss) (1991/200-?)
Sound the Bells! (trans. Lavender) (1993/2003)
Soundtrack Highlights from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (arr. Brown) (2015/2018)
Soundtrack Highlights from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (arr. Brown) (2015/2019)
Star of Bethlehem (arr. Lavender) (1992)
The Star-Spangled Banner (as arranger) (1814/2004)
Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace (arr. Smith)
Star Wars: Episode II, Attack of the Clones (arr. Smith) (2002)
Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (arr. Smith) (2005)
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (2019)
Star Wars: Main Title (arr. Bulla) (1977/2006)
Star Wars Medley (arr. Burden) (1977)
Star Wars Medley (arr. Kalver) (1977/2013)
Star Wars Medley (arr. Tatgenhorst) (1977)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Closing Credits) (arr. Lavender) (2016)
Star Wars: The Marches (arr. Brubaker) (1977)
Star Wars Saga (arr. Bulla) (2017)
- The Imperial March (arr. Bulla) (1980/2008)
Star Wars Saga (arr. Meij) (1987)
Star Wars Trilogy (arr. Hunsberger) (1977/1997)
Suite from the Star Wars Epic, Part I (arr. Smith) (1977/2007)
Suite from the Star Wars Epic, Part II (arr. Smith) (1977/2007)
Suite from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (arr. Lavender) (2015/2016)
- Scherzo for X-Wings (arr. Lavender) (2016)
- Rey's Theme (arr. Lavender) (2015)
- March of the Resistance (arr. Lavender) (2015)
- Jedi Steps and Finale (arr. Lavender) (2015)
Suite from "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (with Nicholas Hooper; arr. Bullock) (2002/2007)
Summon the Heroes (arr. Lavender) (1996)
Superman (arr. Lowden)
Superman March (arr. Lavender) (1978/2008)
Symphonic Marches (arr. Hamers)
Symphonic Suite from "Far and Away" (arr. Lavender) (1992/2013)
Symphonic Suite from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (arr. Bocook) (2016)
Symphonic Suite from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (arr. Bocook) (2019)
Theme from "JFK" (arr. Lavender) (1991)
Theme from "Lost in Space" (arr. O'Loughlin) (1965/1993)
Theme from "Schindler's List" (arr. Custer) (1994)
Theme from "Schindler's List" (arr. Moss) (1993/2008)
Theme from "Superman" (arr. Holcombe) (1979)
Theme from "Superman" (arr. Nowak) (1979)
Theme from "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (arr. Ployhar) (1982/1985)
Throne Room and Finale (tr. Lavender and Nowlin) (1977/)
Trumpet Concerto (arr. Lavender) (1996/2016)
Tribute to the Film Composer (arr. Lavender)
Viktor's Tale (arr. Lavender) (2004/2008)
Viktor's Tale (arr. Rasmussen) (2004)
Wide Receiver (arr. Lavender)
With Malice Toward None (arr. Lavender) (2012/2015)
Young Person's Guide to John Williams (arr. Bocook) (1991)

Resources

Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "John Williams." Accessed 1 April 2016
The Terminal, IMDB Accessed 1 April 2016
Williams, J.; Lavender, P. (2009). Viktor's tale : from the motion picture The terminal : for solo clarinet and concert band [score]. Cherry Lane Music. Co.: [s.l.]