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Midway March

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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
Eb Clarinet
Bb Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
Eb Alto Clarinet
Bb Bass Clarinet
Eb Alto Saxophone I-II
Bb Tenor Saxophone
Eb Baritone Saxophone
Bb Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium (Bass Clef & Treble Clef)
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 by 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


Commercial Discography

None discovered thus far.


Audio Links


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • University of Iowa (Iowa City) Symphony Band (Richard Mark Heidel, conductor) – 29 February 2020
  • University of Iowa (Iowa City) Symphony Band (Mark Mark Heidel, conductor) – 12 November 2019
  • 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
  • Austin (Texas) Symphonic Band (Bill Haehnel, conductor) - 7 February 2015
  • Austin (Texas) Symphonic Band (Richard Floyd, conductor) - 29 September 2014
  • University of North Carolina Symphony Band (Evan Feldman, conductor) - 5 December 2011


Works for Winds by this Composer


References

None discovered thus far.

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