Journey to the Centre of the Earth
Subtitle: Symphonic Scenes for Winds and Percussion
General Info
Year: 2006
Duration: c. 15:00
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Brass band
Publisher: Gramercy Music
Cost: Score and Parts - £119.95 | Score Only - £29.95
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
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
Bass Trombone
Euphonium I-II
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:
- Bass Drum
- Crash Cymbal
- Glockenspiel
- Hi-Hat
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal (2)
- Tam-tam
- Triangle
- Tubular Bells
- Vibraphone
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
2005 marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Jules Verne, and the event inspired Peter Graham to write a musical tribute to the author described as the "father of science fiction."
Journey to the Centre of the Earth is one of Verne's best known works. The novel takes the form of a sequence of diary entries by Axel, nephew of Professor Otto Lidenbrock. The pair follow coded instructions in a old document guiding them to Iceland where, together with their guide Hans, they enter the open crater of an extinct volcano Snæfells and pursue a trail to the centre of the earth. There follows hair-breadth escapes and ventures perilous as the intrepid explorers encounter a vast interior world.
Peter Graham has taken some of the key scenes from the book and set them as a sequence of symphonic extracts. The subtitles are: (I) Snæfells, (II) Descent, (III) The Wonders of the Terrestrial Depths, (IV) The Day of Rest, (V) Lost in the Labyrinth, (VI) The Whispering Gallery, (VII) Rescue from the Abyss, (VIII) Battle of the Antediluvian Creatures and Ascent, (IX) Homecoming.
The wind band transcription of Journey to the Centre of the Earth was commissioned by Yukihiro Higuchi and the premiere recording given by Osaka Municipal Symphonic Wind Band (Japan), conductor Kazuyoshi Akiyama in February 2006.
- Program Note from publisher
The French novelist Jules Verne (1828-1905) created a unique blend of science and adventure in his series of novels known as “Voyages Extraordinaires”. Written in 1864, Journey to the Centre of the Earth is on the surface an adventure story, but as the commentator Diana Mitchell has observed, on a deeper level can be seen as “man’s journey into himself, always probing deeper for what lies at the centre”. ...
This music presents scenes from the novel in a rough chronological order. The work opens on the dark and brooding Summit of Snæfells and follows the adventurers as they descend into the bowels of the earth. En route they encounter the Wonders of the Terrestrial Depths (an electrically illuminated sky), a dream sequence during which Axel witnesses a Battle of Antediluvian Creatures before the final Ascent and Homecoming. The key scene of the book (and the music) reflects on Axel’s despair as he becomes separated from his companions and is Lost in the Labyrinth. His subsequent rescue is due to an acoustic phenomenon whereby he hears the voices of his friends in The Whispering Gallery.
Journey to the Centre of the Earth is dedicated to Ryan and Megan, who love the story!
- Program Note by composer
Media
- Audio: Reference recording. Osaka MSW Band
- Audio CD: NSW State Schools Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Stephen Williams, conductor); Elizabth Scott - 2007
- Audio CD: Osaka Municipal Smyphonic Band (Kazuhiko Komatsu, conductor) – 2008
- Audio CD: Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band (Kazuyoshi Akiyama, conductor) – 2006
State Ratings
- Tennessee: VI
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- University of Sydney (Aus.) Wind Symphony (Sreve Williams, conductor) - 11 August 2023
- University of North Texas (Denton) Wind Symphony (Eugene Migliaro Corporon, conductor) – 23 February 2016
- Lone Star Wind Orchestra (Eugene Migliaro Corporon, conductor) – 25 October 2015
- NSW (Summer Hill, Aus.) State Schools Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Stephen Williams, conductor; Elizabeth Scott, piano) – 21 December 2007 (2007 Midwest Clinic)
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Academic Festival Fanfare (2005)
- Alloway Tales
- Brillante (1987)
- Cartoon Music
- Cats Tales (2008)
- Cossack Fire Dance
- Cry of the Celts (as arranger) (1996/)
- Day of the Dragon
- Elegy (from Harrison's Dream) (2000/2004)
- Force of Nature
- Gaelforce (2001)
- Harrison's Dream (2000/2003)
- Harrison's Dream (arr. Lindsey) (2003/2021)
- Hine e Hine (as arranger) (1907/2004)
- In League with Extraordinary Gentlemen (2009)
- Intrada (On a Theme by Thomas Tallis)
- Journey to the Centre of the Earth (2006)
- Metropolis 1927 (2014/2015)
- Northern Landscapes
- On the Shoulders of Giants (2009/2011)
- Pentium (2002)
- The Red Machine (2004)
- Seize the Day (2010/2012)
- Sirocco
- Shine as the Light (2002)
- Suite from Call of the Cossacks (2007)
- Summon the Dragon (1999)
- Swedish Folksong
- Symphony for Wind Orchestra 'Montage' (1994/1999/2004)
- Three Jazz Pieces
- Windows of the World (2001/2002)
Resources
- Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Peter Graham." Accessed 16 October 2015
- Lopez, John. "Journey to the Centre of the Earth." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 11, Compiled and edited by Richard Miles, 921-928. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2018.
- Perusal score