March from "1941", The

John Williams

General Info

Year: 2004
Duration: c. 4:35
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $195.00 | Score Only (print) - $25.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo (div. a2)
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
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-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

Bass Drum
Bells
Cannon
Crash Cymbals
Snare Drums (2)
Suspended Cymbal
Triangle
Vibraphone (4.0 octaves)
Xylophone

Errata

In Score and Parts:

Percussion II, Crash Cymbals, m.6: This passage should be moved over one measure to m.7
Percussion II, Crash Cymbals, m.55-64: All crash cymbal hits should be on beat 1 in their respective measures instead of beat 4
Percussion II, Crash Cymbals, m.69-72: All crash cymbal hits should be on beat 1 in their respective measures instead of beat 4

- Potential errata noted by Matthew LeFebvre

Program Notes

One of Mr. Williams' most requested titles from his distinguished career in film music, this jaunty march is skillfully conceived with tuneful strains, rousingly aggressive brass writing and superb orchestration.

- Program Note from publisher

In Steven Spielberg’s 1979 comedic film 1941, residents of Los Angeles, California, mistakenly believe they are under attack from the Japanese in the aftermath of the assault on Pearl Harbor. The late John Belushi plays “Wild” Bill Kelso, a somewhat unstable yet affable Air Force pilot at the center of the action. According to John Williams, Kelso’s antics “seemed to require a musical accompaniment that had humor and rhythmic vitality. As a result, I set myself the task of writing a zanily patriotic march, that upon hearing, we might be moved to tap our feet to an imaginary parade going by, and have fun doing it.”

The March from 1941 is indeed a fun-filled romp from beginning to end and is most certainly among Williams’ best efforts in the genre of martial music. The première performance of this concert band transcription was given by the Marine Band in 2003, conducted by the composer.

- Program Note from U.S. Marine Band concert program, 17 August 2016

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: 2013 Florida Music Educators Association All-State Concert Band (Robert W. Rumbelow, conductor) – 2013

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Mid-Pacific Institute (Honolulu, HI) Wind Ensemble (Jeremy Lawi, conductor) - 6 April 2023
University of Iowa (Iowa City) Symphony Band (Gary E. Smith, conductor) - 1 March 2023 (88th Annual ABA National Convention)
University of Illinois Chicago Wind Ensemble (Nicholas J. Carlson, conductor) - 19 February 2023
Cleveland (Ohio) State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Trevor Marcho, conductor) – 28 April 2022
Lamar University (Beaumont, Texas) Wind Ensemble (Andrew McMahan, conductor) – 25 April 2022
University of Lethbridge (Alb., Can.) Wind Orchestra (Chee Meng Low, conductor) - 20 April 2022
Dallas (Tx.) Winds (Jerry Junkin, conductor) – 4 July 2021
Heart of Texas (San Antonio) Concert Band (John Goforth, conductor) – 23 May 2021
Texas A&M University (College Station) Wind Symphony (Timothy Rhea, conductor) – 25 April 2021
Oklahoma State University (Stillwater) Concert Band (Tyler Austin, conductor) – 25 February 2021
Ashland (Ohio) University Symphonic Winds (Joseph Lewis, conductor) – 20 November 2020
Oklahoma State University (Stillwater) Concert Band (Tyler Austin, conductor) – 25 February 2020
Catskill Valley Wind Ensemble (Oneonta, N.Y.) (Scott Rabeler, conductor) – 26 January 2020
Gold Coast Wind Ensemble (Newberry Park, Calif.) (Michael Doty, conductor) – 18 January 2020
Marist College (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) Wind Symphony (Joshua E. Long, conductor) – 23 November 2019
Coastal Communities Concert Band (San Diego, California) (Tom Cole, conductor) – 18 August 2019
Raleigh (N.C.) Concert Band (Lem Hardy, conductor) – 15 June 2019
Gainesville (Fla.) Pops (Gary Langford, conductor) – 18 May 2019

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Great Movie Adventures (arr. Sweeney) (Flex instrumentation) (2006)
Highlights from "Jurassic Park" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (1993)
Raiders March (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Lavender) (1981/2017)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (2016)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Murtha) (2017)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (2019)

All Wind Works

The Adventures of Han (arr. Lavender) (2018)
The Adventures of Mutt (arr. Lavender) (2008)
Adventures on Earth (tr. Lavender) (1982/2007)
America, the Dream Goes On (arr. Higgins) (1989)
American Journey (arr. Lavender) (1999/2012)
At the Movies with John Williams (arr. Justin Williams) (2016)
Call of the Champions (arr. Moss) (2002)
Cantina Band (arr. Kalver) (1977/2014)
Catch Me If You Can (arr. Bocook) (2011)
Chillers and Thrillers (arr. Moss) (2006)
The Complete Harry Potter (arr. Brubaker) (2013)
Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra (arr. Lavender) (1988/2016)
Coronation March from "Star Wars" (arr. Burden) (1977/1978)
The Cowboys (arr. Curnow) (1972)
The Cowboys (Grade III) (arr. Bocook) (1972)
The Cowboys (Grade V) (arr. Bocook) (1972/2007)
Dance of the Witches (arr. Lavender) (1987)
Dartmoor, 1912 (arr. Bocook) (2011)
Duel of the Fates (arr. Story) (1999)
The Empire Strikes Back (tr. Bullock) (1980)
Escapades (arr. Bulla) (2002/2012)
Excerpts from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (arr. Bulla) (1978/2009)
Excerpts from "Far and Away" (arr. Lavender) (1992/1996)
Fanfare for Fenway (2012)
Fanfare from E.T. The Extraterrestrial (arr. Lavender) (1982)
Flight to Neverland (arr. Lavender) (1991/2016)
Flying Theme (tr. Lavender) (1982)
For New York (arr. Lavender) (1988/)
For the President's Own (2013)
Great Movie Adventures (arr. Sweeney) (Flex instrumentation) (2006)
Harry Potter Symphonic Suite (arr. Smith) (2001)
Harry's Wondrous World (arr. Brubaker) (2003)
Harry's Wondrous World (arr. Lavender) (2006)
Highlights from "Harry Potter" (arr. Story) (2001)
Highlights from "Hook" (arr. Bernaerts) (1991/2005)
Highlights from "Hook" (arr. Heide) (1995)
Highlights from "Jurassic Park" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (1993)
Highlights from "Return of the Jedi" (arr. Jennings; orch. Lavender) (1983)
Hogwarts Forever (2001)
Home Alone 2, Lost in New York (arr. Lavender)
A Home Alone Christmas (arr. Lavender) (1990/2006)
A Hymn to New England (arr. Lavender)
Hymn to the Fallen (arr. Lavender) (1998/1999)
Hymn to the Fallen (arr. Sweeney) (1998/2000)
The Imperial March (tr. Bulla) (1980/2008)
Indiana Jones Selection (arr. Heide) (1981/2007)
Jedi Steps and Finale. See: Suite from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
John Williams: Evening at Pops (arr. Higgins) (1987)
John Williams: A Fantasy of Flight (arr. Smith) (2002)
John Williams in Concert (arr. Lavender) (1992)
John Williams: The Symphonic Marches (arr. Higgins; orch. Lavender) (1984)
John Williams: Symphonic Soundtracks (arr. Moss) (2001)
John Williams Swings (arr. Bocook) (2011)
Jurassic Park Soundtrack Highlights (arr. Lavender) (1993)
Liberty Fanfare (arr. Curnow) (1986/2002)
Liberty Fanfare (arr. Bocook) (1986/2010)
Liberty Fanfare (arr. Lavender) (1986/)
Lincoln (arr. Bocook) (2013)
The March from "1941" (arr. Lavender)
March of the Resistance. See: Suite from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
Men of the Yorktown (arr. Lavender)
Midway March (arr. Lavender) (1976/2010)
Midway March (arr Curnow) (1976/1990)
Midway March (arr. Moss) (1976/1994)
The Mission Theme (arr. Lavender) (1987)
Music for Brass (2014)
Music from "Lincoln" (tr. Lavender) (2013)
Music from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (arr. Sweeney) (1977/2016)
Olympic Fanfare and Theme (arr. Curnow) (1984)
The Olympic Spirit (1988)
The Olympic Spirit (tr. Bocook) (1988/1996)
The Olympic Spirit (tr. Rose) (1988)
The Olympic Spirit (arr. Curnow) (1988)
Olympics: A Centennial Celebration (arr. Moss) (1996)
Out to Sea and the Shark Cage Fugue (arr. Bocook) (1975/2011)
Out of This World (arr. Bocook) (1999)
Parade of the Slave Children (arr. Walker) (1984/1997/2002)
The Patriot (arr. Lavender) (2000/2015)
The Patriot (arr. Moss) (2000/2001)
A Prayer for Peace (arr. Moss) (2006)
Quidditch (2001)
Raiders March (tr. Lavender) (1981/2004)
Raiders March (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Lavender) (1981/2017)
Raiders of the Lost Ark Medley (arr. Bullock) (1981)
The Rebellion Is Reborn (arr. Bocook) (2017)
Revenge of the Sith. See: Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith
Rey's Theme (arr. Lavender). See: Suite from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
Rey's Theme (arr. Torskangerpoll) (2015)
Rey's Theme (arr. Vinson) (2015/2016)
The Rise of Skywalker. See: Soundtrack Highlights from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"
Scherzo for Motorcycle and Band (arr. Lavender)
Scherzo for X-Wings. See: Suite from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
Selections from "E.T." (The Extra-Terrestrial) (arr. Cacavas) (1982/2002)
Selections from "Home Alone" (arr. Lavender) (1990/1992)
Selections from "Superman Returns" (arr. Lopez) (2006)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (2016)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Murtha) (2017)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (2019)
Selections from the "Star Wars" Saga (arr. Story) (1977/2006)
Sinfonietta
Soaring with John Williams (arr. Smith) (2007)
Somewhere in My Memory (arr. Moss) (1991/200-?)
Sound the Bells! (trans. Lavender) (1993/2003)
Soundtrack Highlights from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (arr. Brown) (2015/2018)
Soundtrack Highlights from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (arr. Brown) (2015/2019)
Star of Bethlehem (arr. Lavender) (1992)
The Star-Spangled Banner (as arranger) (1814/2004)
Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace (arr. Smith)
Star Wars: Episode II, Attack of the Clones (arr. Smith) (2002)
Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (arr. Smith) (2005)
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (2019)
Star Wars: Main Title (arr. Bulla) (1977/2006)
Star Wars Medley (arr. Burden) (1977)
Star Wars Medley (arr. Kalver) (1977/2013)
Star Wars Medley (arr. Tatgenhorst) (1977)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Closing Credits) (arr. Lavender) (2016)
Star Wars: The Marches (arr. Brubaker) (1977)
Star Wars Saga (arr. Bulla) (2017)
- The Imperial March (arr. Bulla) (1980/2008)
Star Wars Saga (arr. Meij) (1987)
Star Wars Trilogy (arr. Hunsberger) (1977/1997)
Suite from the Star Wars Epic, Part I (arr. Smith) (1977/2007)
Suite from the Star Wars Epic, Part II (arr. Smith) (1977/2007)
Suite from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (arr. Lavender) (2015/2016)
- Scherzo for X-Wings (arr. Lavender) (2016)
- Rey's Theme (arr. Lavender) (2015)
- March of the Resistance (arr. Lavender) (2015)
- Jedi Steps and Finale (arr. Lavender) (2015)
Suite from "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (with Nicholas Hooper; arr. Bullock) (2002/2007)
Summon the Heroes (arr. Lavender) (1996)
Superman (arr. Lowden)
Superman March (arr. Lavender) (1978/2008)
Symphonic Marches (arr. Hamers)
Symphonic Suite from "Far and Away" (arr. Lavender) (1992/2013)
Symphonic Suite from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (arr. Bocook) (2016)
Symphonic Suite from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (arr. Bocook) (2019)
Theme from "JFK" (arr. Lavender) (1991)
Theme from "Lost in Space" (arr. O'Loughlin) (1965/1993)
Theme from "Schindler's List" (arr. Custer) (1994)
Theme from "Schindler's List" (arr. Moss) (1993/2008)
Theme from "Superman" (arr. Holcombe) (1979)
Theme from "Superman" (arr. Nowak) (1979)
Theme from "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (arr. Ployhar) (1982/1985)
Trumpet Concerto (arr. Lavender) (1996/2016)
Tribute to the Film Composer (arr. Lavender)
Viktor's Tale (arr. Lavender) (2004/2008)
Viktor's Tale (arr. Rasmussen) (2004)
Wide Receiver (arr. Lavender)
With Malice Toward None (arr. Lavender) (2012/2015)
Young Person's Guide to John Williams (arr. Bocook) (1991)

Resources

Williams, J.; Lavender, P. (2004). The March from "1941": From the Motion Picture "1941" [score]. Hal Leonard: Milwaukee, Wisc.