Wind in the Willows
General Info
Year: 2002
Duration: 17:00
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Amstel Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - €305.00 | Score Only (print) - €14.00
Movements
1. The River
2. Ratty and Mole
3. Mister Toad
4. The Return of Ulysses
Instrumentation
Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
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
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Harp
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:
- Bass Drum
- Crash Cymbals
- Finger Cymbals
- Glockenspiel
- Marimba
- Sleigh Bells
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Taxi Horn
- Temple Block
- Tam-tam
- Tom-tom
- Triangle (2: small and large)
- Tubular Bells
- Vibraphone
- Water Tam-tam
- Whip
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
"A book for those who keep the spirit of youth alive in them; of life, sunshine, running water, woodlands, dusty roads, winter firesides” said author Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932) about his children’s book The Wind in the Willows. Initially, he wrote the stories about Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad to read to his visually handicapped son Alistair, but after the publication in book form in 1908, it became a worldwide success. It was later also turned into a film and a television series. What appeals to me most is the friendly, very cosy atmosphere that Grahame has managed to create with his optimistic narrative style full of high spirits, an atmosphere that reminds me of my own carefree youth. It was therefore a great pleasure to set this book to music!
The four movements successively describe:
I. The River
The river, which flows through the habitat of the animals like a lifeline, regularly is the scene of pleasant boat trips and picnics. The animals lead their untroubled lives here. The four-tone main motif [A-C-D-C] is extensively presented by the brass section, and returns in the following movements as a countermelody.
II. Ratty and Mole
The bright, energetic Rat and the melancholy doubter Mole are inseparable friends and have many adventures. Their opposite characters are illustrated by separate musical themes.
III. Mister Toad
The wilful, haughty Mister Toad is indeed a unique case: time after time, he runs into tricky situations, and with his indomitable passion for fast – preferably stolen – cars he causes quite a lot of damage...
IV. The Return of Ulysses
After Toad Hall, the majestic residence of Mister Toad, is recovered from the weasels and stoats of the Wild Wood, who had captured the estate in a cowardly way, our friends get ready for a banquet. They celebrate the victory with a triumphant parade, and so both the book and the music conclude with a happy ending.
Media
- Audio CD: Ensemble and conductor unknown – 2002
State Ratings
- Minnesota - Category I
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Winnipeg (Man., Can.) Wind Ensemble (Virginia Helmer, conductor) - 12 February 2023
- University of Washington (Seattle) Symphonic Band (Shaun Day, conductor) - 8 December 2022
- Heart of Texas Concert Band (San Antonio) (Johan de Meij, conductor) - 31 January 2021
- State University of New York, Fredonia, Concert Band (Ray Stewart, conductor) – 21 November 2019
- Bob Jones University (Greenville, S.C.) Symphonic Wind Band (Dan Turner, conductor; Bill Pinkston, narrator) – 14 April 2018
Works for Winds by This Composer
- African Harmony (2017)
- Aladdin Suite (as arranger)
- American Prelude
- Aquarium (1991)
- At Kitty O'Shea's (2011)
- Beatles Collection (as arranger) (1982)
- Canticles (2007)
- Casanova (2000)
- Celtic Classics (2016)
- Ceremonial Fanfare (2005)
- Chanson de Matin (as arranger) (c. 1890/1988)
- Clair de lune (as arranger) (1890/1905/2017)
- Cloud Factory (2011)
- Continental Overture (1997)
- Copacabana (as arranger)
- Downtown Divertimento (2014)
- Dutch Masters Suite (2008)
- Echoes of San Marco (2016)
- Edgar (as arranger) (1889/2008)
- Extreme Make-Over (2004)
- Extreme Beethoven (2012)
- Fellini (2015)
- Festive Hymn (2007)
- Fifty Shades of E (2016)
- Highlights from "Riverdance" (as arranger) (1994/2014)
- Highlights from the Seville Suite (as arranger) (1992/2011)
- Hobbits Dance and Hymn (arr. Lavender) (1987/2006)
- Honky Tonk Ragtime (as arranger) (1985)
- James Bond 007 (1983/2021)
- Jazz Suite No. 2 (as arranger) (post-1956/1994)
- March (as arranger) (post-1956/1994)
- Lyric Waltz (as arranger) (post-1956/1995)
- Dance I (as arranger) (post-1956/1994)
- Dance II (as arranger) (post-1956/1994)
- Waltz No. 2 (as arranger) (post-1956/1994)
- Finale (as arranger) (post-1956/1994)
- Joropo (as arranger)
- Jupiter Hymn (as arranger)
- Klezmer Classics (2004)
- La Fanciulla del West (as arranger) (1910/2008)
- La Quintessenza (1990/1998)
- Les Papillons (as editor)
- Loch Ness (1988)
- Lord of the Rings. See: Symphony No. 1
- Lord of the Rings (arr. Lavender) (1987/2001)
- Los Cuatro Vientos (2021)
- Madurodam (1997)
- March to Mars (as arranger) (1987)
- Marche Americana (as editor) (1997)
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (as arranger) (1826/2022)
- Moment for Morricone (as arranger) (1966/1996)
- Mondriaan (2021)
- Musical Highlights from "Chess" (as arranger) (1993)
- The Painted Bird (2021)
- Pavane (as arranger) (1899/1991)
- Pennsylvania Faux Songs (2018)
- Phantom of the Opera (as arranger)
- Polish Christmas Music, Part I (1995)
- Ratatouille Satirique (as arranger) (/1994)
- Romeo and Juliet (as arranger). See: Suite from the Ballet "Romeo & Juliet"
- Rotterdam 1945 (2019)
- Sinfonietta No. 1 (2011/2012)
- Songs from the Catskills (2012)
- Spring (2010)
- Star Wars Saga (as arranger) (1987)
- Suite for Variety Orchestra (as arranger) (post 1956/1994)
- Suite from the Ballet "Romeo & Juliet" (as arranger) (1935/1990)
- Summer (2013)
- Symphony No. 1 (1987)
- Symphony No. 2 (1993)
- Symphony No. 3 (2007)
- Symphony No. 4 (2013)
- Symphony No. 5 (2018)
- Ancalagon, the Black (2018)
- UFO Concerto (2012)
- T-Bone Concerto (1996)
- Te Deum (as transcriber) (1900/2010)
- Two-Bone Concerto (2016)
- Teddy Trombone (as arranger)
- Triptychon (2023)
- Triumphal March (as arranger) (1872/2003)
- Un Momento Dado (2021)
- The Venetian Collection
- Via Claudia (2012)
- Wind in the Willows (2002)
- Windy City Overture (2006)
- The Witches' Sabbath (as arranger)
- The Woman in White (as arranger) (2006)
- The Year 2020 (2022)
Resources
- De Meij, J. (2002). The Wind in the Willows: For Wind Orchestra [score]. Amstel Music: Amsterdam.
- Johan de Meij website