Superman

John Williams

John Williams (arr. Robert Lowden)

Subtitle: Suite for Concert Band

General Info

Year: 1979
Duration: c. 6:50
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Alfred Publishing
Cost: Score and Parts - $80.00   |   Score Only - $9.00

For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I
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 I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass (or Electric Bass)
Guitar (optional)
Timpani
Percussion I-II, including:

• Crash Cymbals
• Chimes
• Drum Set
• Triangle
• Vibraphone
• Xylophone

Errata

In Parts:

• Timpani, m.3: Add a hairpin crescendo starting on beat 3 and ending before m.4
• Timpani, m.31: Add a marcato on the eighth note on beat 7 (beat 3)
• Timpani, m.37: The hairpin crescendo should start on the 3rd note of the triplet on beat 3
• Timpani, m.61: Add an accent on the F in beat 4
• Timpani, m.83: The "mf" dynamic marking on beat 4 should be a "f"
• Timpani, m.94: Add a staccato on the G on the and of beat 4
• Timpani, m.154: Add a marcato on the C on beat 1
• Timpani, m.161: The hairpin crescendo should start on beat 1

- Potential errata noted by Matthew LeFebvre

Program Notes

Few fictional characters have been as prolific in mainstream entertainment as the Man of Steel. From the original comic stories in the 1930s to the Clayton Collyer radio show and Paramount’s animated shorts in the '40s, the Kirk Alyn television shows of the '50s, the musical adaptation for theatre and George Reeves series of the '60s, the feature films of the '70s and '80s, the television spin-offs of the '90s and '00s, and finally, a resurrection to the big screen in 2006, the legend of Superman has thrived for more than 60 years. Upon the first major motion picture production in the mid-'70s, director Richard Donner and his producers determined that the character would be treated with respect while, after all his adventures, providing him with a massive scale on which to generate his wonder. Their success in that production yielded four Oscar nominations (with one win) and a permanent “most favored Superman” status for actor Christopher Reeve.

The wind band arrangement of John Williams’ film score includes The Main Theme, The Planet Krypton, The March of the Villains, Can You Read My Mind?, and the Finale.

- Program Note by San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra concert program, 29 October 2011

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

• Florida Symphonic Winds (Clearwater) (Jeffrey Traster, conductor) - 16 July 2022
• Contra Costa Wind Symphony (Walnut Creek, Calif.) (Brad Hogarth, conductor) – 23 October 2019
• Encore Winds (Traverse City, Mich.) (Timothy Topolewski, conductor) - 20 May 2018
• Indiana Wind Symphony (Carmel) (Charlie Conrad, conductor)– 7 October 2017
• Atascadero (Calif.) Community Band (Randy Schwalbe, conductor) – 30 October 2016
• San Luis Obispo (Calif.) Wind Orchestra (David Rackley, conductor) – 25 September 2016
• Allan Hancock College (Santa Maria, Calif.) Concert Band (Greg Orwell, conductor) - 9 May 2015
• United States Navy Band (Brian O. Weldon, conductor) - 17 June 2014
• Silliman University (Dumaguete, Philippines) Concert Band (Prof. Basa, conductor) - 18 January 2014
• San Luis Obispo (Calif.) Wind Orchestra (Jennifer Martin, conductor) - 29 October 2011

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

• Williams, J.; Lowden, R. (1979). Superman: Suite for Concert Band [score]. Warner Tamberland Publicating Corp.: New York.