Midway March

From Wind Repertory Project
John Williams

John Williams (arr. Paul Lavender)


General Info

Year: 1976 / 2010
Duration: c. 4:15
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts - $195.00   |   Score Only - $25.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo/Flute III
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
Piano
Harp
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Bells
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Snare Drum
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

In the classic World War II motion picture Midway (1976), John Williams created one of the most riveting and powerful marches ever heard on the silver screen. This authentic edition brings all the energy and excitement of this composition to the wind band format.

- Program Note from publisher


The Battle of Midway was a victory that some say was the turning point of the U.S. war against Japan during World War II. The jaunty nature of the march celebrates the victory but omits the high cost of a battle. The victory was so important to American morale that the name found its way into the lexicon of the country. Chicago’s Midway Airport, for example, was named for the battle. Key to the victory was the breaking of the Japanese Naval encryption codes. The war had been going badly for the U.S. and the Japanese planned to deliver a devastating blow to finish off the U.S. fleet at Midway. However, due to the U.S. Signals Intelligence breaking the Japanese encryption code, the U.S. was able to plan a counterattack that led to eventual victory, although with great loss of U.S. life.

Williams references the code in his march with a repetitive set of staccato notes in the brass. The march was composed in 1976 as part of the soundtrack for an epic movie. Despite its big-name cast, the movie was not a smashing success, but in June 1992, a more successful re-edit of the extended version aired on the CBS network commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Midway. Regardless of the success of the film, the score produced one of Williams’s most popular marches, Midway March.

- Program Note by the Austin (Texas) Symphonic Band concert program, 7 February 2015


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Kansas State University Wind Symphony (Alex Wimmer, conductor) - 28 November 2023
  • North County Winds (San Diego, Calif.) (Vince Hernandez, conductor) - 11 June 2023
  • Sacramento (Calif.) Symphonic Winds (Matthew Morse, conductor) - 19 March 2023
  • University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) Gold Campus Band (Jacques Tousignant, conductor) - 5 December 2022
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College (Owensboro) Band (Pat Stuckemeyer, conductor) – 17 November 2022
  • Rollins College (Winter Park, Fla.) Wind Ensemble (Aaron Lefkowitz, conductor) - 22 November 2022
  • The Arizona Winds (Phoenix) (Richard Shelton, conductor) – 6 May 2022 (ACB 2022 Annual Convention (Santa Fe, New Mexico))
  • Texas All-State Concert Band (Richard Mark Heidel, conductor) - 12 February 2022 (2022 TMEA Conference, San Antonio)
  • Triangle Wind Ensemble (Cary, N.C.) (Evan Feldman, conductor) - 30 May 2021
  • West Virginia University (Morgantown) Wind Symphony (Scott C. Tobias, conductor) - 23 February 2021
  • Grove City College (Grove City, Penn.) Wind Ensemble (Andrew S. Erb, conductor) - 9 October 2020
  • University of Iowa (Iowa City) Symphony Band (Richard Mark Heidel, conductor) – 29 February 2020
  • Austin (Tx.) Symphonic Band (Bill Haehnel, conductor) – 10 February 2019
  • University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA) Wind Ensemble (Travis J. Cross, conductor) – 7 March 2018
  • Iowa City (Iowa) New Horizons Band (Nolan Hauta, conductor) - 18 June 2017
  • Allan Hancock College (Santa Maria, Calif.) Concert Band (Greg Orwell, conductor) – 11 March 2017
  • Oakland (Calif.) Municipal Band (Troy Davis, conductor) – 4 July 2016
  • Ventura County (Calif.) Concert Band (Julie Budd, conductor) – 8 November 2015
  • Virginia Grand Military Band (Loras John Schossel, conductor) - 23 May 2015


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

None discovered thus far.