Prehistoric Suite, A

Paul Jennings

General Info

Year: 1987 / 2006
Duration: c. 5:40
Difficulty: I (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts - $45.00 | Score Only - $5.00

Movements

1. Stegosaurus
2. Brontosaurus
3. Pterodactyls
4. The Battle (Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops)

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
E-flat Alto Clarinet
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/Baritone Bass Clef
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion I-II-III, including:

Antique Cymbal (or Triangle)
Anvil
Bass Drum
Bells
Crash Cymbals
Gong
Snare Drum
Vibraphone (or Bells)
Wind Chimes (or optional other "ethereal sounds"")

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

A very programmatic work that draws on the graphic images that come along with the best known prehistoric animals: dinosaurs. Introduces musical concepts that would not normally be in younger players' vocabularies, including non-triadic harmonies, simple clusters, modal melodies, short optional solo passages, non-traditional percussion instruments and a brief aleatoric section.

I. Stegasaurus (The Gladiator). In this modal processional march, most harmonies are built around open fourths and fifths.

II. Brontosaurus (Gentle Giant). A depiction of the giant walking around. There are trombone glissandi and many crescendo and descrescendo notes as the creature's giant feet shake the ground.

III. Pterodactyls (Graceful Giants of the Sky). While the individual parts are simple, this 3/4 movement contains more independence of voices that is traditionally found in Grade I works. Contains two short optional solos for trumpet.

IV. The Battle (Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops). The first two measures are aleatoric. Students are directed to play random notes for 16-20 seconds, starting low and soft and becoming higher, faster and louder. Tone clusters make this section very dissonant.

- Program Note from score

Media

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)

State Ratings

Indiana: ISSMA JUNIOR BAND GROUP III
Kansas: II
Maryland: I
North Carolina: II
South Carolina: II
Tennessee: II
Virginia: III
West Virginia: I

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Paul Kinder Middle School (Blue Springs, Mo.) Intermediate Band (Elizabeth Schmidt, conductor) – 15 November 2022
Mapleton High School (Denver, Colo.) Concert Band (Zach Brake, conductor) - 16 December 2021
Western Illinois University (Macomb) University Band (John Schilder, conductor) – 23 April 2019
University of Louisville Summer Wind Band Institute Concert Band (Jason Cumberledge, conductor) - 9 June 2018
Brooklyn (N.Y.) Wind Symphony (Elizabeth Peterson, conductor) – 21 December 2013 (2013 Midwest Clinic)
Horner Junior High School (Fremont, Calif.) Concert Band (Paul Lorigan, conductor) - 15 March 2013 (2013 Sutherland Wind Festival (Fresno, Calif.))
Ely 5th and 6th Grade Bands, Ely, Minnesota (Nolan Hauta, conductor) - May 2012
New Albany (Ohio) Middle School Band - 14 March 2012

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adagio for Young Concert Band (as arranger) (1936/1991)
African Road (1994)
Ancient Carol (1994)
Basin Street Blues (as arranger)
Canon of Peace (as arranger) (1992)
Cereal Symphony, The (1994)
The Civil War (as arranger) (1992)
Do You Hear What I hear? (2002)
Highlights from "Return of the Jedi" (as arranger) (1983)
The Muppets Greatest Hits (as arranger) (1980)
A Prehistoric Suite (1987)
Rhapsody of Reruns
Roaring Twenties, The (as arranger) (1982)
Symphony of Sitcoms (as arranger)
Theme from "Star Trek" (as arranger) (1966/1994)
Variations for Band (1990)
When You Wish Upon a Star (as arranger) (1940/1979)
Where No Man has Gone Before (as arranger) (1984)

Resources

Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Paul Jennings." Accessed 23 April 2015.
Jennings, P.; Jennings, T. (1987). Prehistoric Suite [score]. Jenson Publications: Milwaukee, Wisc.
A Prehistoric Suite on website "Should I Play This?"