Seventy-Six (76) Trombones

From Wind Repertory Project
Meredith Willson

Meredith Willson (arr. Kenneth Amis)


General Info

Year: 1957 /
Duration: c. 8:00
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Amis Musical Circle
Cost: Score and Parts - $60


Instrumentation

Full Score
Solo Trombone
Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
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 Cornet I-II-III
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Baritone
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Cymbals
  • Snare Drum
  • Vibraphone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Seventy-Six Trombones is the signature song from the musical play The Music Man (1957), which was written by Meredith Willson. The song also appeared in the 1962 film and in the made-for-TV movie adaptation in 2003. It is also a piece commonly played by marching and military bands.

In the musical, "Professor" Harold Hill uses the song to help the townspeople of River City, Iowa, visualize their children playing in a marching band by recalling a time when he saw several famous bandleaders' bands in a combined performance. While an average-sized high school marching band might have about 10 musicians playing the trombone, and a large college marching band seldom has more than 30 trombonists, the band that Harold Hill describes to the villagers includes 76 trombones, 110 cornets, "more than a thousand reeds", double bell euphoniums, and "fifty mounted cannon" (which were popular in bands of the late 19th century).

The love ballad Goodnight My Someone, which immediately precedes Seventy-Six Trombones in the musical, has the same tune but is played in 3/4 time, at a much slower tempo. In Willson's hometown of Mason City, Iowa, the song is honored (along with the whole plot of The Music Man) in a building called "Music Man Square," which is located next to Willson's boyhood home. In one large room, there are 76 donated trombones hanging from the ceiling.

- Program Note from Wikipedia


Media

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State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

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Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources