Higher than the Sky

From Wind Repertory Project
Composer picture desired

Hirotaka Nakagawa (arr. Hiroki Takahashi)


General Info

Year: 1990 / 2018
Duration: c. 4:30
Difficulty: II (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Brain Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $80.00


Instrumentation (Flexible)

Full Score
Part 1

  • Flute
  • Oboe
  • E-flat Soprano Clarinet
  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet
  • B-flat Soprano Saxophone
  • E-flat Alto Saxophone
  • E-flat Cornet
  • B-flat Cornet
  • B-flat Trumpet
  • Violin

Part 2

  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet
  • E-flat Alto Saxophone
  • B-flat Cornet
  • B-flat Trumpet
  • B-flat Flugelhorn
  • Violin

Part 3

  • Flute (optional)
  • Oboe (optional)
  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet
  • E-flat Alto Clarinet
  • B-flat Tenor Saxophone
  • E-flat Alto Horn
  • Horn in F
  • Violin (optional)

Part 4

  • E-flat Alto Clarinet
  • B-flat Tenor Saxophone
  • Trombone
  • Euphonium
  • Baritone
  • Cello

Part 5

  • Bassoon
  • B-flat Bass Clarinet
  • E-flat Baritone Saxophone
  • Euphonium (optional)
  • Tuba
  • String Bass

Piano
Timpani
Percussion I-II, including:

  • Glockenspiel
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Triangle

Chorus I-II


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

"Don't give up". That sounds straight. The lyrics are a support song that resonates with a wide range of people, from children to adults, and sings "the height above the sky" and "the depth above the sea".

- Program Note by composer (roughly translated from Japanese through Google Translate)


“It might not be your typical children’s song, but I always try to write lyrics that people of any age can sing along to, not just children,” lyricist Toshihiko Shinzawa says. “Now the message of those words is being applied to this situation beyond its original intention.”

The song is sung partly to the tune of Scottish folk song Auld Lang Syne, which is often performed as the song Hotaru no Hikari (Glow of a Firefly) at school graduation ceremonies in Japan.

“I did not intentionally use Hotaru no Hikari, but when I read Shinzawa’s words, the melody came to me naturally,” says Nakagawa. “It just seemed to be the intrinsic melody of the words.”

- Program Note from The Japan Times


Performance Notes

  • Collaboration between chorus and concert band.
  • This flexible composition can be played by ensemble or large groups.
  • Even without vocals, this can be played with instruments alone.
  • This can be accompanied by piano or chorus.
  • This can be played without piano or percussion.


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources