Sound the Bells!

John Williams

John Williams (trans. Paul Lavender)

General Info

Year: 1995 / 2003
Duration: c. 2:35
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts - $125.00   |   Score Only - $25.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
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
B-flat or C Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Harp
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V, including:

• Bass Drum
• Chimes
• Crash Cymbals
• Glockenspiel
• Marimba (4.5 octaves)
• Mark Tree
• Snare Drum
• Suspended Cymbal
• Triangle
• Tuned Drums (4)
• Vibraphone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Sound the Bells! was a fanfare written for a series of concerts in a 1993 tour of Japan with the Boston Pops Orchestra. John Williams felt it was a good opportunity to celebrate the joy of the wedding of Crown Prince Naruhito and Masako Owada, which occurred close to the time of the tour. Williams commented that he had always been fascinated by the huge Japanese temple bells, and they "were a kind of inspiration for the prominent use of percussion" in this work.

- Program note by Robert Strong and David Fullmer

With resplendent sound, this invigorating and jubilant work for advanced concert bands will take your breath away! This fabulous transcription for band instrumentation is enhanced with parts for harp, piano and trumpets in C. This is simply stunning fanfare, filled with an exuberance that will elevate the energy level in your concert hall.

The premiere performance of Sound the Bells! for concert band was conducted by John Williams as part of the 205th anniversary concert of the United States Marine Band, July 12, 2003, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

- Program note by publisher

Media

• Audio: Reference Recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
• Audio: Reference Recording. U.S. Army Field Band (Thomas H. Palmatier, conductor)
• Audio CD: Bay Brass (Alasdair Neale, conductor
• Audio CD: Flower Mound High School Wind Symphony (Mike Brown, conductor) – 2003

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• James Madison University (Harrisonburg, Va.) Wind Symphony (Stephen Bolstad, conductor) - 25 February 2023
• University of Kentucky (Lexington) Wind Symphony (John Cody Birdwell, conductor) - 18 September 2022
• Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah) Wind Symphony (Don L. Peterson, conductor) – 12 December 2019
• Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Central Band (Ichijirusha Takahiro Higuchi, conductor) – 15 May 2019
• University of Arkansas (Fayetteville) Wind Ensemble (Christopher Knighten, conductor) – 1 March 2019
• San Dieguito Union High School District (San Diego, Calif.) High School Honor Band (Jeffery Malecki, conductor) – 13 January 2019
• Sacramento (Calif.) Symphonic Winds (Tim Smith, conductor) – 9 December 2018
• West Virginia University (Morgantown) Wind Symphony (Scott C. Tobias, conductor) – 24 September 2018
• Texas Youth Wind Symphony (Austin) (Bradley Kent, conductor) – 4 March 2018
• Lone Star Wind Orchestra (Dallas, Tx.) (Eugene Migliaro Corporon, conductor) – 8 February 2018
• West Chester University (Penn.) Wind Ensemble (Andrew Yozviak, conductor) – 30 April 2017
• Kennesaw (Ga.) State University Wind Ensemble (David T. Kehler, conductor) – 19 April 2017
• State University of New York, Fredonia, All-College Band ( Esther Barnum, conductor) – 3 March 2017
• Aledo (Texas) High School Wind Ensemble (Joey Paul, conductor) - 12 February 2016 (2016 TMEA Conference, San Antonio)
• San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra (Jennifer Martin, conductor) - 7 December 2014
• California State University Fresno Symphonic Band (David Fullmer, conductor) - 4 October 2012
• Valparaiso University and Valparaiso High School Combined Concert Bands - February 2012
• San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra (Williams V. Johnson, conductor) - 11 December 2011
• United States Army Field Band (Washington, D.C.) (Thomas H. Palmatier, conductor) – 17 December 2008 (2008 Midwest Clinic)
• Flower Mound (Tx.) High School Wind Symphony (Mike Brown, conductor) – 19 December 2003 (2003 Midwest Clinic)

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) (1989)
• American Journey (arr. Lavender) (1999/2012)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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

None discovered thus far.