Sinfonians, The

Clifton Williams

Subtitle: Symphonic March

General Info

Year: 1960
Duration: c. 5:35
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: E.B. Marks, through Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts - $75.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo and Flute I
Flute II-III
Oboe
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet/Cornet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Bass Drum
Snare Drum
Crash Cymbals
Bells
Chimes
Tenor Drum

Vocal choir (optional)

Errata

Flute II-III, m.1, 2, 5, 6, 9-12, beat 3-4: Add a trill above the notes (to match Flute I and Piccolo)
B-flat Soprano Clarinet, I, 4 meas. after reh. 1, beat 4: Rhythm should read: two 16th notes, 8th note, 8th note (same pitches, to match the figure 4 meas. later)

Program Notes

This work was commissioned by the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America. It was the first in a series of instrumental pieces to be commissioned by the Sinfonians and was dedicated to Archie N. Jones, former president of the fraternity and later director of that organization's foundation. Williams conducted the first performance of The Sinfonians at the fraternity's national convention in Cincinnati, Ohio, in July 1960.

The march opens with an extended fanfare introduction before the horns state the familiar Sinfonian theme: "Hail Sinfonia! Come, brothers, hail!" The melody is then completed, embellished, and extended in the style of the composer. In a 1982 international survey, The Sinfonians received more votes than any of Williams' other works.

- Program Note from Program Notes for Band

The "Hail Sinfonia!" melody is from The Pirates of Penzance by Sir Arthur Sullivan.

Media

Audio CD: Texas A&M University Wind Symphony (Timothy Rhea, conductor) - 2011

State Ratings

North Carolina: V

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of North Texas (Denton) Concert Band (Jerianne Larson, conductor) - 25 September 2023
First Coast Wind Symphony (Jacksonville, Fla.) (Artie Clifton, conductor) – 19 May 2023 (ACB 2023 Annual Convention (Orlando, Fla.))
Penn State University (University Park) Symphonic Band (Dennis Glocke, conductor) - 23 February 2023
University of Georgia (Athens) Hodgson Wind Symphony (Shiree X. Williams, conductor) - 13 April 2022
Indiana Wind Symphony (Carmel) (Lissa Fleming May, conductor) - 23 May 2021
University of Texas at Arlington Symphonic Winds (Christopher Evans, conductor) - 9 May 2021
University of Mississippi (Oxford) Wind Ensemble (David Willson, conductor) - 23 April 2021
West Virginia University (Morgantown) Symphonic Band (Cheldon Williams, conductor) - 17 November 2020
University of Iowa (Iowa City) Concert Band (Eric Bush, conductor; Brothers of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, vocalists) – 9 December 2019
Fort Hays State University (Big Creek, Kans.) Wind Ensemble (Jeff Jordan, conductor) – 6 December 2019
Appalachian State University (Boone, N.C.) Symphony Band (Christopher Tkacik,, conductor) – 21 November 2019
George Mason University (Fairfax, Va.) Wind Symphony (Mark Camphouse, conductor) – 8 October 2019
University of Evansville (Ind.) Wind Ensemble (Kenneth Steinsultz, conductor) - 16 April 2019
Kings County (N.Y.) Community Band (Jasmine Britt, conductor) – 15 December 2018
University of Kansas (Lawrence) Symphonic Band (Matthew O. Smith, conductor) – 6 December 2018
Austin (Texas) Symphonic Band (Bill Haehnel, conductor) - 2 April 2018
Kansas Wesleyan University (Salina) Wind Ensemble (Carl T. Rowles, conductor) - 8 February 2018
Gold Coast Wind Ensemble (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) (Michael Doty, conductor) – 8 April 2018
Callanwode Concert Band (Atlanta, Ga.) (Robert Meehan, conductor) - 25 March 2018
California State University, Los Angeles Wind Ensemble (Emily Moss, conductor) – 15 March 2018

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Variation Overture (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Barber) (1962/2021)

All Wind Works

Academic Procession (1961)
Air Force Band of the West March (1965)
Anitra's Tanz (as arranger) (1875/1965)
Arioso (1958)
Caccia and Chorale (1976)
Castle Gap (1964)
Concertino (1960)
Dedicatory Overture (1964)
Dramatic Essay (1958)
Fanfare and Allegro (1956)
Festival (1962)
The Hermitage (1976)
Hill Country Ballad (1953)
Killian March (1968)
Laredo (1964)
March Lamar (1966)
Pandéan Fable (1970)
Pastorale (1957)
The Patriots (1970)
Postwar Prelude (1943/2012)
The Ramparts (1967)
The Sinfonians (1960)
A Solemn Fugue (1958)
Sonata Allegro (1949/2012)
Songs of Heritage (1976/1999)
Strategic Air Command (1964)
Symphonic Dance No. 1, "Comanche Ritual" (tr. McBeth) (1965/2013)
Symphonic Dance No. 2, "The Maskers" (1964/1968)
Symphonic Dance No. 3, "Fiesta" (1964/1967)
Symphonic Dance No. 4, "Square Dance"
Symphonic Dance No. 5, "New Generation" (1965/2013)
Symphonic Essays (1963/2013)
Symphonic Suite (1956)
Variation Overture (1962)
Variation Overture (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Barber) (1962/2021)

Resources

Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications, pp. 647.
Williams, C. (1960). The Sinfonians: (Symphonic March) [score]. Edward B. Marks: [U.S.A.]