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Take the Ribbons

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Gary P. Gilroy

Gary P Gilroy


General Info

Year: 2013
Duration: c. 5:20
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Wingert Jones
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $70.00; (digital) - $70.00   |   Score Only (print) - $10.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra-Alto 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
Trombone I-II
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-VII, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Brake Drums (2)
  • Chinaboy Cymbal
  • Claves
  • Cowbell
  • Finger Cymbals
  • Flexatone
  • Floor Tom
  • Gong
  • Hi-Hat
  • Ocean Drum
  • Rainstick
  • Ride Cymbal
  • Rute Sticks
  • Sandpaper Blocks
  • Slapstick, large
  • Sleigh Bells
  • Snare Drum
  • Splash Cymbal
  • Tambourine
  • Temple Blocks
  • Triangle
  • Vibra-slap
  • Wind Chimes
  • Wood Block


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

The composition was inspired by the story of Delia Haskett Rawson (1861-1949) who was the first woman stagecoach driver for the famous Wells Fargo stage line on December 7, 1861, Delia Haskett was born in Ukiah, California, to school teacher mother Miranda and father, Samuel, who was the local agent for Wells Fargo. He also owned the Ukiah Hotel and a blacksmith shop. From her early days, Delia was quite interested in her father's work and would often ask to "take the ribbons" or reins. She became quite skilled at trick riding, roping, and shooting.

When one of the regular Wells Fargo drivers was suddenly taken ill, Delia, then only 14 years old, was called upon to take his place. The trip was a night run passing by the treacherous Blue Lakes in Lake County. Even the local Pomo Indians refused to go near the deep and dark lakes. They believed there was a monster lurking below the mysterious waters. Making the trip even more frightening was the fact that this Wells Fargo run had no passengers but only cargo. Delia was completely alone on her journey. What Delia feared most, however, was the possibility of running into a notorious stagecoach bandit named Black Bart. As she left Ukiah, she cracked her whip aggressively starting the team of horses on their way. Around 11 p.m. she pulled off the road to let the horses drink at a stream. Hearing the clatter of hooves and the voices of men, Delia's heart began to race. She feared the worst but was relieved when she realized the men were singing songs of faith and were simply on their way home after a religious camp meeting. At 3 a.m. the next morning, Delia completed the run as she pulled up in front of the Wells Fargo office in Lakeport, California. She was tired but felt rather victorious!

Delia drove stage for Wells Fargo for the next nine years. She would become famous as the first female stagecoach driver in California and the only female in the Pioneer Stage Drivers of California Association. When she became Mrs. Rawson in 1885, Delia ended her career as a stagecoach driver.

- Program Note from score


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

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Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

None discovered thus far.

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