For the President's Own

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John Williams

John Williams


General Info

Year: 2013
Duration: c. 4:20
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts - $195.00   |   Score Only - $25.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III-IV-V-VI
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
C Trumpet I-II-III-IV-V-VI
Horn in F I-II-III-IV-V-VI
Trombone I-II-II-IV
Euphonium
Tuba I-II
String Bass
Piano
Harp
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

  • Chimes
  • Glockenspiel
  • Marimba
  • Piatti
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tom-Tom
  • Triangle
  • Vibraphone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

This fanfare/curtain opener follows the tradition of other Williams fanfares such as Jubilee 350 Fanfare (1980), Sound the Bells! (199), and Fanfare for Fenway (2012). It is characterized by heroic flourishes of trumpet-based repeated-note figures that build through increasing canonic activity, harmonic/modal twisting, and/or syncopation, often punctuated by big "boom-chick" hits. The central portion of the work features a walking bass-figure under an angular theme that develops in various ways, leading to motor-rhythm ostinati accompanying pointed woodwind figures that progress to additional fanfare flourishes.

- Program Note from Teaching Music through Performance in Band


Written especially for the United States Marine Band, Colonel Michael J Colburn, director, in celebration of their 215th anniversary, July 1, 2013.

- Program Note from score


Named by President Thomas Jefferson in 1801, "The President's Own" United States Marine Band, at over 200 years of age, is one of our country's most venerable musical organizations, and recognized as one of the finest of its kind anywhere in the world.

As a former member of an Air Force band myself, one can imagine my delight and pride when I was invited to conduct the Marine Band in a concert of my music at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in 2003. Working with them on several other occasions over the ensuing years, I've come to think of the band and its directors, Colonel Tim Foley, Colonel Mike Colburn, and Lt. Colonel Jason Fettig, as colleagues and friends, and felt extremely privileged and honored when in 2013 I was asked to write a piece celebrating the ensemble's 215th anniversary.

In writing The President's Own, I tried to create a worthy salute to the band and its players, whose breathtaking virtuosity is always on display whenever they perform. In equal measure, their service to our country is consistently combined with their dedicated service to music itself, and we are all greatly in their debt.

- Program Note by composer


Williams’ close relationship with the Marine Band began in 2003, when he accepted an invitation to conduct the ensemble in celebration of the organization’s 205th anniversary. He returned for an encore performance in 2008, and the band was also chosen by the composer to perform for him when he received the Kennedy Center Honor in 2004. In 2013, Williams graciously penned his first original work for winds in more than four decades as a token of esteem for “The President’s Own” and in celebration of the Marine Band’s 215th anniversary. Warmly named for the ensemble by the composer, the piece combines virtuosic, intertwining lines with a series of playful themes and bright fanfares that brilliantly capture the many colors and textures of Williams’ inimitable music.

- Program Note by United States Marine and


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • James Madison University (Harrisonburg, Va.) Symphonic Band (Chris DeVona, conductor) - 4 December 2023
  • United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Jason K. Fettig, conductor) - 16 July 2023
  • Missouri State University (Springfield) Wind Ensemble (John Zastoupil, conductor) - 21 November 2021
  • United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (John Williams, conductor) - 9 July 2020
  • State University of New York, Fredonia, Concert Band (Ray Stewart, conductor) – 21 November 2019
  • United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Jason K. Fettig, conductor) – 17 May 2019 (Hamamatsu, Japan)
  • Messiah College (Mechanicsburg, Penn.) Wind Ensemble (James Colonna, conductor) – 28 April 2019
  • University of Washington (Seattle) Wind Ensemble (Timothy Salzman, conductor) – 12 March 2019
  • California All-State High School Symphonic Band (Frank Tracz, conductor) - 17 February 2019 (2019 CASMEC Conference, Fresno)
  • United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Ryan J. Nowlin, conductor) – 25 March 2018
  • Texas A&M University (College Station) Wind Symphony (Timothy Rhea, conductor) – 23 February 2018
  • University of Texas, Arlington, Wind Symphony (Douglas Stotter, conductor) - 9 February 2017 (2017 TMEA Conference, San Antonio)
  • United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Michael J. Colburn, conductor) - 14 December 2016 (2016 Midwest Clinic)
  • United States Coast Guard Band (New London, Conn. (Jason K. Fettig, conductor) – 20 November 2016
  • University of Texas, Arlington, Wind Symphony (Douglas Stotter, conductor) – 23 September 2016
  • Liberty University (Lynchburg, Va.) Wind Symphony (Stephen Kerr, conductor) – 20 February 2016 (CBDNA 2016 Southern Division Conference, Charleston, S.C.)
  • University of North Texas, Denton, Wind Symphony (Eugene Migliaro Corporon, conductor) – 19 November 2015
  • Atlanta (Georgia) Youth Wind Symphony (Scott A. Stewart, conductor) – 12 october 2015
  • Ohlone Wind Orchestra (Fremont, Calif.) (Tony Clements, conductor) – 14 July 2015 – WASBE Conference, San Jose, Calif.
  • United States Air Force Band (Washington, D.C.) (Larry D. Lang, conductor) - 6 March 2015
  • United States Marine Band (John Williams, conductor) - 2013


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

  • Williams, John. For The President's Own: For Concert Band [score]. Hal Leonard, 2013.
  • Wyman, Richard E. "For The President's Own." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 10, Compiled and edited by Richard Miles. GIA Publications, 2015, pp. 970-978.