Selkie

Johnnie Vinson

Subtitle: A Scottish Legend

General Info

Year: 2014
Duration: c. 3:55
Difficulty: I (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $45.00 | Score Only (print) - $5.00

Movements

1. Baby Seal – 2:15
2. Young Lad – 1:35

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
Contrabassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F
Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III

(percussion detail desired)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

A selkie (also spelled selchie or silkie) is a mythical creature found in Celtic folklore. When in the water the selkie is a seal, but when on land it becomes a human.

The idea for this composition came from a story about a Scottish fisherman who finds a baby seal near the beach. Because there are no other seals around, he decides to wrap it up and take it home. When the fisherman and his wife unwrap it, they discover that it is no longer a seal, but is now a baby boy. They realize that it is a selkie and decide to raise it as their son, never letting it go back into the water. Time passes and the baby grows into a fine young lad. One day the fisherman’s boat is caught in a terrible storm, and he is in danger of drowning. Seeing this, the young lad jumps into the sea, again becomes a seal, and swims out and rescues the fisherman.

The two parts (or movements) of this work are musical impressions of the selkie character, first as a baby seal, then as a young lad. The baby seal, being lost in the surf, is depicted in a rather melancholy manner in a minor key. The young lad is portrayed as very Scottish (think kilts and bagpipes), and the music employs a number of characteristics of Scottish folk tunes.

- Program Note from Louis Pizitz Middle School Symphony Band concert program, 16 December 2015

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Louis Pizitz Middle School (Vestavia Hills, Ala.) Symphonic Band (Leah Seng, conductor) - 16 December 2015 (2015 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

The Addams Family Theme (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1962/2011)
The Avengers (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2012)
Baba Yetu (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2005/2019)
Baby Elephant Walk (as arranger) (1962/2007/2013)
Back to the Future (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1985/2016)
Brazilian Sleigh Bells (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1950/2017)
City of Stars (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2016/2017)
Disco Lives (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1999/2009)
Disney Film Favorites (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2013)
Disney on Parade (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2009)
Eye of the Tiger (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1982/2009)
God Bless America (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1939/2011)
God Bless the USA (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1984/2004/2013)
The Great Escape (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1963/2014)
Highlights from "Jurassic Park" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1993)
Highlights from "Moana" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (2016/2017)
Highlights from "Phantom of the Opera" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1986/2014)
Highlights from "Rocketman" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2019/2020)
Hogan's Heroes March (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1965/2012)
Jazzy Holidays (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2012)
Jump, Jive an' Wail (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1999/2010)
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1945/2017)
The Lord of the Dance (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1997/2010)
Mars (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1916/2009)
Michael Jackson Hit Mix (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2013)
Music from "Aladdin" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1992)
Music from "Frozen" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2013/2014)
Music from "Frozen II" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2019)
Music from "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2017)
Nettleton (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2008/2016)
O Mio Babbino Caro (as arranger) (1918/2011)
The Polar Express (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2004/2020)
Respect (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1965/2019)
St. Petersburg March (Flex instrumentation) (2005/2008)
Selections from "Black Panther" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2018)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2016)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2019)
Selections from the Motion Picture "Les Misérables" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1980/2013)
Silver Bells (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1950/2009)
Skyfall (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2012/2013)
Soul Bossa Nova (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1962/2012)
Suite from "The Planets" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1916/2018)
Themes from "1812 Overture" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1891/2008)
Three Czech Folk Songs (Flex instrumentation) (1992/2010)
Thriller (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1982/2009)

All Wind Works

The Addams Family Theme (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1962/2011)
And Hold in Memory... (2006)
America (as arranger) (1963/2018)
Armenian Rhapsody (2016)
The Avengers (Flex instrumentation) (s arranger) (2012)
Baba Yetu (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2005/2019)
Back to the Future (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1985/2016)
Ballad and Dance (2004)
The Bare Necessities (as arranger) (1967)
Beguine for Band (as arranger) (1954/2006)
Born to be Wild (as arranger) (1968/2004)
Brazilian Sleigh Bells (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1950/2017)
British Invasion, The (as arranger) (2001)
Cahaba Dances (2015)
Charlie Brown Celebration, A (as arranger)
Cheerio March (as arranger) (1999)
City of Stars (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2016/2017)
Disco Lives (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1999/2009)
Disney Film Favorites (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2013)
Disney on Parade (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2009)
Echoes of the Hollow Square (2010)
Eye of the Tiger (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1982/2009)
Flourish and Processional
God Bless America (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1939/2011)
God Bless the USA (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1984/2004/2013)
Grand Galop (2013)
The Great Escape (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1963/2014)
Highlights from "Jurassac Park" (as arranger) (1993)
Highlights from "Les Misérables" (arr. Vinson) (1980/1991)
Highlights from "Moana" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Vinson) (2016/2017)
Highlights from "Phantom of the Opera" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1986/2014)
Highlights from "Rocketman" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2019/2020)
Highlights from "Toy Story 4" (as arranger) (2019)
Hogan's Heroes March (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1965/2012)
Hooked on a Feeling (as arranger) (1968/2017)
The Incredibles (as arranger)
A Jazzy Christmas (as arranger) (2011)
Jazzy Holidays (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2012)
Jump, Jive an' Wail (as arranger) (1998)
Jump, Jive an' Wail (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1999/2010)
Just a Closer Walk with Thee (as arranger) (2002)
Kingsfold (as arranger) (2015)
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1945/2017)
Like a Mighty Stream (2016)
Limehouse Blues (as arranger)
The Lord of the Dance (as arranger) (1996)
The Lord of the Dance (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1997/2010)
The Marches of John Williams (as arranger)
Mars (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1916/2009)
Michael Jackson Hit Mix (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2013)
Mountain Country Dances (2011)
Music from "Aladdin" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1992)
Music from "Braveheart'' (as arranger)
Music from "Frozen" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2013/2014)
Music from "Frozen II" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2019)
Music from "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2017)
Nessun Dorma (as arranger)
Nettleton (as arranger) (2008)
Nettleton (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2008/2016)
New Forest March (2009)
Newcastle March (1975/2002)
O'er the Land of the Free (as arranger) (2014)
Ol' Man River (as arranger)
Overture to "Miracle on 34th Street" (as arranger)
Phantom of the Opera, The: Medley (as arranger)
Pie in the Face Polka (as arranger)
The Polar Express (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2004/2020)
Remember Me (as arranger) (2017)
Respect (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1965/2019)
Rey's Theme (as arranger) (2015/2016)
Russian Sailors' Dance (as arranger) (1927/2003)
Selections from "Black Panther" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2018)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2016)
Selections from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2019)
Selections from the Motion Picture "Les Misérables" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1980/2013)
Selections from "The Music Man" (as arranger)
Selkie (2014)
Silver Bells (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1950/2009)
Skyfall (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2012/2013)
Smoke on the Water (as arranger)
Soul Bossa Nova (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1962/2012)
St. Petersburg March (2005)
St. Petersburg March (Flex instrumentation) (2005/2008)
The Star-Spangled Banner (as arranger) (1814/)
Stille Nacht (as arranger, with Davis) (1818/1985)
Suite for Winds and Percussion (2009)
Suite from "The Planets" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1916/2018)
Themes from "1812 Overture" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1891/2008)
Three Czech Folk Songs (1992)
Three Czech Folk Songs (Flex instrumentation) (1992/2010)
Thriller (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1982/2009)
To Realms of Endless Day (2011)
Tribute to Ray Charles (as arranger) (2005)
Variants on a Shaped Note Tune (2006)
William Byrd Portrait (as arranger) (2003)
Yakety Sax (as arranger) (1992)

Resources

Johnnie Vinson website Accessed 8 December 2015