YMCA

From Wind Repertory Project
Village People

Village People (arr. Larry Norred)


Subtitle: Recorded by The Village People.

N.B. The title is properly written with periods: Y.M.C.A.


General Info

Year: 1978 / 1995
Duration: c. 2:40
Difficulty: II (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Disco song
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $45.00   |   Score Only (print) - $5.00

For further availability information, see Discussion tab, above.


Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
E-flat Alto Clarinet
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
Tuba
Convertible Bass Line
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III

  • Bells
  • Cowbell
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Drum Set
  • Tambourine


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Y.M.C.A. is a song by the American disco group Village People. It was released in 1978 as the only single from their third studio album, Cruisin' (1978). The song reached number 2 on the US charts in early 1979 and reached number 1 in the UK around the same time, becoming the group's biggest hit. It is one of fewer than forty singles to have sold 10 million (or more) physical copies worldwide.

Taken at face value, the song's lyrics extol the virtues of the Young Men's Christian Association. In the gay culture from which the Village People sprang, the song was implicitly understood as celebrating the YMCA's reputation as a popular cruising and hookup spot, particularly for the younger men to whom it was addressed. Upon its release, the YMCA organization threatened to sue the band over trademark infringement. The organization ultimately settled with the composers out of court and later expressed pride regarding the song saluting the organization.

The song remains popular and is played at many sporting events in the U.S. and Europe, with crowds using the dance in which the arms are used to spell out the four letters of the song's title as an opportunity to stretch. Moreover, the song also remains particularly popular due to its status as a disco classic.

In 2009, Y.M.C.A. was entered into the Guinness World Book of Records when over 44,000 people danced to the song with Village People singing live at the 2008 Sun Bowl game in El Paso, Texas.

- Program Note from Wikipedia


Media

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • East Texas Symphonic Band (Longview) (James Snowden, conductor) - 6 February 2023
  • Atascadero (Calif.) Community Band (Keith Waibel, conductor) – 23 August 2016
  • unnamed Israeli band – 2013


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works'


Resources

  • Y.M.C.A (song), Wikipedia Accessed 13 August 2016
  • Morali, J.; Belolo, H.; Willis, V.; Village People; Norred, L. (1978/1995). Y.M.C.A. [score]. Hal Leonard: Milwaukee, Wisc.