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Hill Song II: Wind Ensemble, Ensemble Works Conductor Score

$12.00 USD
$12.00 USD
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Hill Song II Cover Image
Hill Song II: Wind Ensemble, Ensemble Works Conductor Score

Hill Song II: Wind Ensemble, Ensemble Works Conductor Score

By Percy Aldridge Grainger / arr. R. Mark Rogers

Grade: 4

Item: 36-10105276
$12.00
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Description
On both "Hill-Songs," Percy Grainger writes: "My Hill-Songs arose out of the thoughts about and longings for the wilderness of hill countries, hill peoples, and hill musics (such as the Scottish Highlands, the Himalayas, the bagpipes, and the like.) "Hill-Song II" is the result of a wish to present the fast, energetic elements of "Hill-Song I" as a single-type whole, without contrasting types of a slower, more dreamy nature."

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Additional Details
Series: LudwigMasters Symphonic Band
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
ISBN10: 1-63-361154-X
ISBN13: 978-1-63-361154-2
UPC: 735816284671
SKU: 36-10105276
Instrumentation: Wind Ensemble, Ensemble Works

More about this title

About the Composer: Percy Aldridge Grainger

Percy Aldridge Grainger (1882-1961) was an Australian-American composer and pianist whose distinctive voice shaped early 20th-century concert band and wind ensemble music. A collector of folk music and an innovator in orchestration, Grainger brought rhythmic vitality and orchestral color to the wind band medium at a time when the repertoire was still developing. His willingness to experiment with unconventional harmonies, layered textures, and energetic rhythmic patterns made him a singular figure in band composition.

Grainger's approach to wind ensemble writing emphasized transparency and color over traditional brass-dominated scoring. His commitment to capturing the spirit of folk traditions—whether from the British Isles, Scandinavia, or beyond—gave his works a sense of authenticity and narrative purpose that continues to engage both conductors and audiences.

Why we love this

Mark Rogers's arrangement preserves Grainger's architectural vision while making this vigorous, folk-inflected work accessible for advanced high school and early college ensembles. The piece delivers sustained rhythmic momentum and transparent orchestration that rewards clean ensemble work, and its Grade 4 level makes it achievable without sacrificing Grainger's distinctive harmonic language or the wild energy he intended.

What to expect

Restless, forward-moving energy courses through this work. Grainger captures the vigor of mountain folk traditions—the relentless pulse, the soaring melodic contours, the sudden shifts in color—creating a piece that feels alive and purposeful rather than ceremonial or introspective.

Who it's for

Advanced high school and early college wind ensemble conductors seeking Grainger's music within a Grade 4 technical range. This arrangement serves groups ready to tackle the work's rhythmic and textural demands while exploring early 20th-century American wind band composition.

How to get the most out of it

  • Establish the tempo confidently from the first gesture. This work thrives on rhythmic drive; a tentative opening undercuts the energetic character Grainger sought.
  • Balance the melodic lines across the ensemble rather than doubling them heavily. Grainger's orchestration relies on clarity between woodwind and brass voices to create the sense of layered folk melodies.
  • Shape the dynamic contrasts with precision. The sudden shifts from forte to piano are structural markers, not accidents; they reflect the work's folk-song origins and keep the listener engaged throughout.
  • Attend to articulation consistency within each section. Grainger's rhythmic figures gain their character from unified tonguing and attack, especially in faster passages.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece for a concert exploring folk-inspired American classics or early 20th-century wind band innovation. Its concentrated energy makes it an ideal complement to more lyrical works, and its modest length allows room for pairing with longer contemporary or traditional concert band repertoire.

Skills your students will build

  • Maintaining rhythmic precision across extended passages of driving figurations
  • Balancing independent melodic lines within transparent orchestration
  • Executing rapid dynamic shifts and articulation changes without disrupting ensemble cohesion
  • Interpreting folk-inflected material with stylistic authenticity
  • Reading and executing Grainger's chromatic harmonies and unconventional voice leading

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