Prairie, The

From Wind Repertory Project
Stephen Hill

Stephen Hill


General Info

Year: 2007 /
Duration: c. 6:30
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Tuba and piano
Publisher: SARAHTIM Music
Cost: Score and Parts - Contact Publisher

Instrumentation

Full Score
Solo Tuba/Euphonium
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
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
Harp
Piano
Timpani
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Bells
  • Snare Drum
  • Triangle
  • Vibraphone
  • Wood Block


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

The Prairie, composed in 2007, was originally written for solo tuba and piano. It was written at the request of Peter Alexander (Alexander Publishing) and is part of a larger project of solo compositions written for each major instrument of the orchestra: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn in F, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass. The project consisted of composing music to specific poems chosen by Peter that he felt reflected the character of each instrument. For the solo Tuba, the poem assigned was Rudyard Kipling’s The Prairie.

The Prairie by Rudyard Kipling

I see the grass shake in the sun for leagues on either hand,
I see a river loop and run about a treeless land
An empty plain, a steely pond, a distance diamond-clear,
And low blue naked hills beyond. And what is that to fear?
Go softly by that river-side or, when you would depart,
You'll find its every winding tied and knotted round your heart.
Be wary as the seasons pass, or you may ne'er outrun

The wind that sets that yellowed grass a-shiver 'neath the Sun.

I hear the summer storm outblown -- the drip of the grateful wheat.
I hear the hard trail telephone a far-off horse's feet.

 I hear the horns of Autumn blow to the wild-fowl overhead;
And I hear the hush before the snow. And what is that to dread?

Take heed what spell the lightning weaves
-- what charm the echoes shape
-- Or, bound among a million sheaves, your soul shall not escape.
Bar home the door of summer nights lest those high planets drown
The memory of near delights in all the longed-for town.

What need have I to long or fear?
Now, friendly, I behold 
My faithful seasons robe the year in silver and in gold.

Now I possess and am possessed of the land where I would be,

And the curve of half Earth's generous breast shall soothe and ravish me!

The Prairie received a premiere recital performance at Azusa Pacific University with Eric Villalobos on tuba and Edward Sywulka on piano.

In 2015, on a summer visit with Ken and Ruth Meints of the Omaha (Neb.) Conservatory of Music (both colleagues with whom I had taught together at Whittier Christian Schools) I shared selections with them from the solo compositions. Ruth very much enjoyed The Prairie and asked me to re-score it for her Frontier Strings group at the Conservatory. Ken quickly noted the irony of an original composition for tuba re-scored for violin. It’s usually the other way around.

The premiere of the string version took place on June 5, 2016, with the Frontier Strings accompanied by the Omaha Symphony, Enrique Lopez-Yanez, Conductor.

This original version of The Prairie is scored for solo tuba and wind symphony. (The solo part may be played on euphonium.)

- Program Note by composer


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

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Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

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