Ironclads (The Monitor and the Merrimack)
Subtitle: The Monitor and the Merrimack
General Info
Year: 2012
Duration: c. 3:40
Difficulty: II (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: FJH Music Company
Cost: Score and Parts - $55.00 | Score Only - $7.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo (optional)
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F
Trombone I-II
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-IV, including:
- Bass Drum
- Snare Drum
- Crash Cymbals
- Bells
- Brake Drum
- Chimes
- Gong
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tom-Tom
- Triangle
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
This programmatic work depicts the Civil War battle between the iron-sided ships Merrimack and Monitor. The introduction begins forebodingly by way of percussion and brass, signifying the initial meeting of the two titans. The music suddenly assumes an intense quick tempo, engaging various styles and volumes to represent the ferocity of the vessels in combat. Tonal dissonance and a flurry of percussion colors are used as well to symbolize the fury of battle and the rigid determination of both ships.
- Program Note from publisher
After the outbreak of the American Civil War, the Confederacy built a superior fleet with iron-clad ships. The USS Merrimack launched an assault on the Union warships and inferior wooden vessels. She ultimately met her match with the Union's armored challenger, the USS Monitor. The two ironclads shortly squared off and commenced battle, but after hours of fighting, neither vessel could claim an advantage.
Ironclads captures the fierceness and raw savagery of the battle that would change naval warfare forever. The introduction begins forebodingly by way of percussion and brass, signifying the initial meeting of the two titans. The music suddenly assumes an intense quick tempo, engaging various styles and volumes to portend the ferocity of the vessels in combat. Tonal dissonance and flurry of percussion colors are used as well to connote the fury of battle and the rigid determination of two factions interlocked in an infamous chapter of the most terrible war in American history.
-Program Note by the Aledo Middle School Honor Winds concert progra, 20 December 2013
Media
State Ratings
- Tennessee: III
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Aledo (Tx.) Middle School Honor Winds (William Owens, conductor) – 20 December 2013 (2013 Midwest Clinic)
- Crossroads South Middle School (South Brunswick Twn., N.J.) (George Heffentrager, conductor)
Works for Winds by This Composer
Adaptable Music
- Carpathia (Flex instrumentation) (2007/2021)
- Flourishes (Flex instrumentation) (2019/2021)
- Tambora! (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2020)
All Wind Works
- Across the Great Plains (2017)
- After the Darkness (2021)
- Albany Fanfare (2011)
- All Things So Wondrous
- Antiphon (2011)
- Battle Command
- Big Bend (2023)
- The Blue Orchid (2005)
- Blue Sky (2002)
- But Joy Comes... (2010)
- Captain Dane (2003)
- Carnegie Anthem (2012)
- Carpathia (2007)
- Carpathia (Flex instrumentation) (2007/2021)
- Caverns of Sonora (2019)
- Chisholm
- Congolese (2017)
- Corps of Discovery (2010)
- Country Day Dances (2004)
- Courtlandt County Festival (2004)
- Credo (2012)
- Curtain Up!
- Dances Americanesque (2008)
- Declaration and Dance (2010)
- Destined to Fly (2018)
- Egyptique (2010)
- The Eighth Day (2022)
- El Pato Loco (2010)
- El Vaquero! (2017)
- Every Day New (2018)
- Excelsior! (2008)
- Exhaltations! (2006)
- Fandango Caliente (2017)
- Fantasia on "Adeste Fidelis" (as arranger) (2007)
- Festive Proclamation (2015)
- Flourishes! (2019)
- Flourishes! (Flex instrumentation) (2019/2021)
- Great Wall (2016)
- Hark! (A Holiday Celebration) (As arranger)
- Heavenwards (2015)
- Heroes Triumphant (2012)
- Hopak! (2014)
- In Autumn (2009)
- In Joyful Celebration (2003)
- Ironclads (The Monitor and the Merrimack) (2012)
- Journey of the Bonfire (2017)
- Jupiter (as arranger) (1916/2006)
- Kamehameha (2006)
- Kitty Hawk, 1903 (2010)
- Krakatoa (2008)
- Maesong (2004)
- Mars (as arranger) (1916/2009)
- The Mighty 97th (2008)
- New Horizons March (2016)
- Of Gentle Spirit
- Paintings (2011)
- Paradise Awaiting... (2017)
- Quicksilver (2018)
- Resplendence (2017)
- Silversides (2021)
- The Southern Dawn (1998/2002)
- Spit-Fire (2013)
- Summit Fanfare (2008)
- The Tahoka Galop (2004)
- Tangelridge (2009)
- Tambora! (2013)
- Tambora! (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2020)
- Terracotta (2009)
- Three Scottish Vistas (2007)
- To Her Majesty's Delight (2020)
- Tudor Sketches (2013)
- Tundra (2018)
- Wedgwood March (2002)
- The Wings of Mercury
- With Valor and Brave Heart (2011)
- The World's Greatest Show! (2022)
- Yonaguska (2016)
- Zia (2014)
Resources
- Perusal score
- William Owens website Accessed 29 August 2021