Land of the Thunder Dragon

Michael Story

Folk song arranged by Michael Story

Subtitle: Based on a traditional Bhutanese song

General Info

Year: 2019
Duration: c. 2:50
Difficulty: II (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Alfred Music Publishing
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $62.00; (digital) - $62.00   |   Score Only (print) - $10.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F
Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

• Bass Drum
• Bells
• Tambourine
• Tom-Tom, high mid (or snare drum) and low
• Triangle
• Wind Chimes

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Based on the folk song Chumo La Dingshoin from the South Asian country of Bhutan, this powerful setting features four contrasting musical variations. Inspired by the mighty and potent thunderstorms that cascade down the Himalayas, it begins with a quiet flute solo, gradually changing character as the piece unfolds to a thrilling close.

- Program Note from publisher

- Program Note by composer

Known as the Land of the Thunder Dragon, Bhutan is a small country in southern Asia. Nestled between India to the southwest and China to the north, the country gets her nickname from its powerful thunderstorms.

Commissioned by the Spring Oaks Middle School Symphonic Band, Houston, Texas, Aaron Casillas, Director.

- Program Note from score

This work contains four complementary variations. The slow atmospheric introduction is marked "Moderately slow" and features solo flute with wind chimes. Suddenly much faster, the folk song is played by the low brass and low woodwinds. Each subsequent variation is slightly faster, growing with excitement and intensity, building towards a thunderous finale.

- Program Note from The Instrumentalist

Media

• Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Eastern Shore Wind Ensemble (Chestertown, Md.) (Charles Thai, conductor) – 15 March 2020 (scheduled, but concert canceled)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

• Astronomica (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
• Christmas Holiday March (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
• Danger Zone (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1986/2020)
• I Got Rhythm (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1930/2020)

All Wind Works

• 25 or 6 to 4 (as arranger)
• And to All a Good Night (with Robert W. Smith) (2004)
• Annunciation (2020)
• Astronomica (2020)
• Astronomica (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
• Ayrshire Portrait (as arranger) (2001)
• Aztec Dance (1997)
• Barnburner (2017)
• The Batman Theme (as arranger) (1966/1989)
• The Batman Theme (as arranger) (1989/1997)
• Best of the West! (as arranger) (2018)
• Bruno Mars Four-Pack (as arranger) (2016/2019)
• Carnaval de Brasil (2000)
• A Cartoon Christmas (as arranger) (2001)
• Chant de Noël (as arranger) (2016)
• The Chase (2013)
• A Christmas Celebration (1985)
• Christmas Holiday March (2020)
• Contempo (2004)
• Creepy Crawlies (1999)
• The Curse of Tutankhamun (2001)
• Danger Zone (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1986/2020)
• Dragon Dance (2010)
• Duel of the Fates (as arranger) (1999)
• Encore! (2013)
• España Cañi (as arranger) (1921/2008)
• Finale from "The Firebird" (as arranger) (1918/2014)
• Fum, Fum, Fum (2010)
• Ghost Ship (2012)
• Ghostbusters (as arranger) (1984/2016)
• The Gladiator (as arranger) (1886/2015)
• Good King Nutcracker (as arranger) (2012)
• Graduation Suite (as arranger) (2002)
• Holiday Short Cuts for Beginning Band – Vol. 1 (as arranger) (1948/2015)
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (as arranger) (1966/1994/2000)
• Highlights from "The Wizard of Oz" (as arranger) (1939/1999)
• I Got Rhythm (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1930/2020)
• Irish Air and Dance (2008)
• It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (as arranger) (1963/2001)
• Jingle Bell Rock (as arranger) (1957/2001)
• Land of the Thunder Dragon (as arranger) (2019)
• Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (as arranger, with Smith) (1945/2008)
• Livin' la Vida Loca (as arranger)
• Macarena (as arranger) (2014)
• The Magic of Harry Potter (as arranger) (2013)
• Mama Paquita (as arranger) (2016)
• March from "First Suite for Military Band" (as arranger) (1909/2011)
• March of the Dwarfs (as arranger) (1891/2014)
• Medieval Dance (as arranger) (2015)
• Medieval Legend (2001/2012)
• Nautical Bits and Pieces (as arranger) (2014)
• Once Upon a December (as arranger) (1997)
• The Oregon Trail (1999)
• Overture 1812 (as arranger, with Smith) (1882/2012)
• Pavane (as arranger) (1899/2015)
• Pax Americana (2019)
• Pentagram (2016)
• The Pioneer Spirit (2010)
• Plaza de Toros (2011)
• Pyramid of the Sun (2013)
• Rockin' on Top of the World (as arranger) (2004/2005)
• A Saint-sational Trio! (as arranger) (2013)
• Sakura (1995)
• Salute to Glenn Miller (as arranger) (1940/1968)
• Scenes from "The Nutcracker" (as arranger) (1884/2010)
• Selections from the "Star Wars" Saga (as arranger) (1977/2006)
• Shenandoah (as arranger with Smith) (2003)
• Shut Up and Dance (as arranger) (2014/2015)
• Sketches of Canada (as arranger) (2015)
• Sleigh Ride (as arranger)
• Spitfire (2007)
• Spoon River (as arranger) (1922/2014)
• Suite from "Symphonie Fantastique" (as arranger) (1830/2016)
• The Tell-Tale Heart (2011)
• Time Warp (as arranger) (1975/2011)
• To Honor, Thank and Remember (2002)
• Trittico: Movement I (as arranger) (1963/2011)
• Üsküdar (as arranger, with Robert W. Smith) (2005)
• Variations on a Civil War Tune (2016)
• The Wabash Cannonball (as arranger) (1904/1987)
• Wade in the Water (as arranger) (2013)
• The Washington Post (as arranger) (1889/1998)
• You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch (as arranger) (1966/1994)
• Zombie Dance (2017)

Resources

• "New Music Reviews." The Instrumentalist 74.5 (December 2019): 33. Printx
• Perusal score