Scherzo for Motorcycle and Band

John Williams

John Williams (trans. Paul Lavender)

Subtitle: From Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

General Info

Year: 1989
Duration:
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Orchestra
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts – In process

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II-III (III doubling Piccolo)
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II-III (III doubling Contrabassoon)
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
C Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano/Celeste
Harp
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

• Bass Drum
• Chimes
• Glockenspiel
• Marimba
• Piatti
• Side Drum
• Snare Drum
• Suspended Cymbal
• Triangle (small)
• Vibraphone
• Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

In 1989 after a five-year hiatus, the third installment in the wildly popular Spielberg/Lucas Indiana Jones saga was released. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade opens with a glimpse of Indy’s early days as an adventurous and determined boy scout who stubbornly believes that historical artifacts belong in museums and not in the possession of greedy men.

Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra was composed by Williams to accentuate the fast-paced action of the scene as Indiana Jones and his father (portrayed by Sir Sean Connery) escape from Castle Brunwald on a motorcycle with sidecar. With Indy’s dare-devil navigating, the father-son duo successfully eludes capture by a band of motorcycle-riding Nazis. Stephen Spielberg lauded that Williams’ music “rousingly heightened the spirit of adventure, wit, and suspense.” Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade went on to become the highest-grossing film worldwide in 1989. Spielberg admits, “John is the poet in me. He makes me look so good each time out.”

- 'Program Note from U.S. Marine Band concert program, 14 August 2014

Media

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

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (John Williams, conductor) - 16 July 2023
• University of Texas (Austin) Wind Ensemble (Jerry Junkin, conductor) – 30 March 2022
• Dallas (Tex.) Winds (Jerry Junkin, conductor) – 27 March 2018
• United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C. (Jason K. Fettig, conductor) - 14 August 2014 *Premiere Performance*

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 and Lavender) (1982/1985/1989)
• American Journey (arr. Lavender) (1999/2012)
• The Asteroid Field (tr. Lavender and Nowlin) (1980/)
• 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)
• Helena's Theme (tr. Lavender) (2022)
• 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)
• Hooray for Hollywood (as arranger; tr. Bocook)
• 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)
• Jaws (arr. Steven Walker) (1975/2004)
• 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)
• Princess Leia's Theme (tr. Lavender and Nowlin) (1977/)
• 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)
• Throne Room and Finale (tr. Lavender and Nowlin) (1977/)
• 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

• Dallas Winds, personal correspondence, March 2018