Beyond the Seven Hills
by Michael Sweeney
Hal Leonard Corporation
Grade: 2
Year: 1999
Duration: 3'48"
Key: Bb
Time: 4/4
Tempo: Quarter Note = 76
Grade: 2
Year: 1999
Duration: 3'48"
Key: Bb
Time: 4/4
Tempo: Quarter Note = 76
Instrumentation
Flute Oboe Bassoon Bb Clarinet 1 / 2 Eb Alto Clarinet Bb Bass Clarinet Eb Alto Saxophone 1 / 2 Bb Tenor Saxophone Eb Baritone Saxophone Bb Trumpet 1 / 2 F Horn |
Trombone
Baritone BC/TC Tuba Convertible Bass Line Snare DrumBass Drum Gong Chimes Suspended Cymbal Triangle Orchestra Bells Xylophone Timpani |
Click on SCORE to view the score and listen to a recording.
Suggestions For Small Band Instrumentation
This is a great piece for smaller groups because it is exciting, beautiful and just works. Here are some good things going on. Flute and oboe are in unison. Trombone, bassoon, alto one and Eb alto clarinet line up nicely as well. Bass clarinet, alto two, tenor sax, and baritone seem to hold the same lines for a large portion of the piece. The trumpets are the only section that start a bit different than the rest with straight mutes playing in contrary motion to everything else going on (measure 3). Michael Sweeney takes advantage of the timbre of the muted trumpets by having the woodwinds echo their part and the trumpets switch between playing with low brass and high woodwinds. Make sure the trumpet part is covered. Around measure thirty three there is a set of terraced chordal sustained parts that need to be covered in your instrumentation. Other than that this is a fun and exciting piece that is pretty straight forward. Your percussion will have fun with this as well.
Program Notes
This fun and energetic piece is the best-filled with tone clusters, percussive effects, and a driving rhythmic feel, and a sizzling, climatic coda. You can be sure that this piece will grab your attention and hold on tight! At times slow and mysterious, at times powerful and driving, Beyond the Seven Hills by Sweeney maintains a high intensity level throughout. This piece, while challenging to play, is not at all challenging to listen to and enjoy!
Composer
Michael Sweeney is currently Director of Band Publications for Hal Leonard Corporation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, one of the largest publishers of printed music in the world. Michael is directly responsible for the development, production, recording and marketing of new publications for school bands. In addition, he contributes as a composer and arranger in all instrumental areas, and is particularly known for his writing at the younger levels for concert band and jazz. Since joining the company in 1982, Hal Leonard has published over 500 of his compositions and arrangements. Mr. Sweeney is a 1977 graduate of Indiana University (Bloomington), where he earned a bachelor's degree in music education and studied composition with Bernard Heiden, John Eaton and Donald Erb. Prior to working for Hal Leonard he was a band director in Ohio and Indiana, working with successful concert, jazz and marching programs at all levels from elementary to high school. A winner of multiple ASCAP awards, his Ancient Voices (1994) and Imperium (1992) are featured in the acclaimed Teaching Music Through Performance series by GIA Publications. Other compositions such as Black Forest Overture (1996), The Forge of Vulcan (1997) and Distant Thunder of the Sacred Forest (2003) have become staples in the repertoire for middle school bands. He has received commissions ranging from middle school and high school bands to the Eastman Wind Ensemble and Canadian Brass. His works appear on numerous state contest lists and his music is regularly performed throughout the world. Michael is also in demand as a clinician and conductor for honor bands and festivals. Michael resides north of Milwaukee where he enjoys fishing and playing the bodhrán.
Information Collected From
http://www.jwpepper.com/Beyond-the-Seven-Hills/2423887.item#.VanJ-ypViko
http://www.halleonard.com/biographyDisplay.do?id=174&subsiteid=1
http://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=4001798&lid=0&keywords=Beyond%20the%20Seven%20Hills&subsiteid=1&
http://stephen-wight.gbs.loudoncounty.org/modules/blog/viewPost.phtml?profile_id=67214&beid=68973&sessionid=89647c62b275f63e23eaf00997cd1d47&printable=TRUE&sessionid=89647c62b275f63e23eaf00997cd1d47&portrait_or_landscape=landscape&sessionid=89647c62b275f63e23eaf00997cd1d47
Suggestions For Small Band Instrumentation
This is a great piece for smaller groups because it is exciting, beautiful and just works. Here are some good things going on. Flute and oboe are in unison. Trombone, bassoon, alto one and Eb alto clarinet line up nicely as well. Bass clarinet, alto two, tenor sax, and baritone seem to hold the same lines for a large portion of the piece. The trumpets are the only section that start a bit different than the rest with straight mutes playing in contrary motion to everything else going on (measure 3). Michael Sweeney takes advantage of the timbre of the muted trumpets by having the woodwinds echo their part and the trumpets switch between playing with low brass and high woodwinds. Make sure the trumpet part is covered. Around measure thirty three there is a set of terraced chordal sustained parts that need to be covered in your instrumentation. Other than that this is a fun and exciting piece that is pretty straight forward. Your percussion will have fun with this as well.
Program Notes
This fun and energetic piece is the best-filled with tone clusters, percussive effects, and a driving rhythmic feel, and a sizzling, climatic coda. You can be sure that this piece will grab your attention and hold on tight! At times slow and mysterious, at times powerful and driving, Beyond the Seven Hills by Sweeney maintains a high intensity level throughout. This piece, while challenging to play, is not at all challenging to listen to and enjoy!
Composer
Michael Sweeney is currently Director of Band Publications for Hal Leonard Corporation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, one of the largest publishers of printed music in the world. Michael is directly responsible for the development, production, recording and marketing of new publications for school bands. In addition, he contributes as a composer and arranger in all instrumental areas, and is particularly known for his writing at the younger levels for concert band and jazz. Since joining the company in 1982, Hal Leonard has published over 500 of his compositions and arrangements. Mr. Sweeney is a 1977 graduate of Indiana University (Bloomington), where he earned a bachelor's degree in music education and studied composition with Bernard Heiden, John Eaton and Donald Erb. Prior to working for Hal Leonard he was a band director in Ohio and Indiana, working with successful concert, jazz and marching programs at all levels from elementary to high school. A winner of multiple ASCAP awards, his Ancient Voices (1994) and Imperium (1992) are featured in the acclaimed Teaching Music Through Performance series by GIA Publications. Other compositions such as Black Forest Overture (1996), The Forge of Vulcan (1997) and Distant Thunder of the Sacred Forest (2003) have become staples in the repertoire for middle school bands. He has received commissions ranging from middle school and high school bands to the Eastman Wind Ensemble and Canadian Brass. His works appear on numerous state contest lists and his music is regularly performed throughout the world. Michael is also in demand as a clinician and conductor for honor bands and festivals. Michael resides north of Milwaukee where he enjoys fishing and playing the bodhrán.
Information Collected From
http://www.jwpepper.com/Beyond-the-Seven-Hills/2423887.item#.VanJ-ypViko
http://www.halleonard.com/biographyDisplay.do?id=174&subsiteid=1
http://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=4001798&lid=0&keywords=Beyond%20the%20Seven%20Hills&subsiteid=1&
http://stephen-wight.gbs.loudoncounty.org/modules/blog/viewPost.phtml?profile_id=67214&beid=68973&sessionid=89647c62b275f63e23eaf00997cd1d47&printable=TRUE&sessionid=89647c62b275f63e23eaf00997cd1d47&portrait_or_landscape=landscape&sessionid=89647c62b275f63e23eaf00997cd1d47