76 Trombones

From Wind Repertory Project
Meredith Willson

Meredith Willson (arr. Leroy Anderson; adapt. Jay Bocook)


General Info

Year: 1957 / 1997
Duration: c. 3:25
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts - $70.00   |   Score Only - $7.50


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
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
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Chimes
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Orchestra Bells
  • Police Whistle
  • Snare Drum
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

This fabulous arrangement has been a trademark of the Boston Pops Orchestra for years! Legendary arranger Leroy Anderson cleverly mixes Sousa march strains in and around the rousing march from The Music Man with a skill that just can't be duplicated!

- Program Note from publisher


Seventy-Six Trombones is the signature song from the musical play The Music Man (1957), which was written by Meredith Willson. The song also appeared in the 1962 film and in the made-for-TV movie adaptation in 2003. It is also a piece commonly played by marching and military bands.

In the musical, "Professor" Harold Hill uses the song to help the townspeople of River City, Iowa, visualize their children playing in a marching band by recalling a time when he saw several famous bandleaders' bands in a combined performance. While an average-sized high school marching band might have about 10 musicians playing the trombone, and a large college marching band seldom has more than 30 trombonists, the band that Harold Hill describes to the villagers includes 76 trombones, 110 cornets, "more than a thousand reeds", double bell euphoniums, and "fifty mounted cannon" (which were popular in bands of the late 19th century).

The love ballad Goodnight My Someone, which immediately precedes "Seventy-Six Trombones" in the musical, has the same tune but is played in 3/4 time, at a much slower tempo.

In Willson's hometown of Mason City, Iowa, the song is honored (along with the whole plot of The Music Man) in a building called "Music Man Square", which is located next to Willson's boyhood home. In one large room, there are 76 donated trombones hanging from the ceiling.

- Program Note from Wikipedia


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Cobb Wind Symphony (Marietta, Ga.) (Alfred L. Watkins, conductor) - 12 November 2023
  • Karl L. King Municipal Band (Fort Dodge, Iowa) (Jerrold P. Jimmerson, conductor) - 23 July 2023
  • University of Findlay (Ohio) Symphonic Band (Wes King, conductor) - 7 March 2021
  • Sacramento (Calif.) Symphonic Winds (Tim Smith conductor) – 13 October 2019
  • Gold Coast Wind Ensemble (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) (Clinton H. Dawley, conductor) – 20 November 2016
  • Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps Symphonic Band (Kelly Watkins, conductor) - 11 April 2015
  • Austin (Texas) Symphonic Band (Richard Floyd, conductor) - 29 September 2014
  • Eden Prairie (Minn.) Community Band - 20 July 2013


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

  • Seventy-Six Trombones, Wikipedia
  • Willson, M.; Anderson, L.; Bocook, J. (1997). Seventy-Six Trombones: From Meredith Willson's The Music Man [score]. Frank Music Corp.: [United States?]