Saddle Up! for Orchestra (Gr.4-5) by Stephen Hill

SARAHTIM Music Publishing (Stephen Hill)
Website: www.stephenhillcomposer.com for Scores and Parts
Email: [email protected]

Instrumentation
Piccolo
Flute 1-2
Oboe 1-2
English Horn
Bb Clarinet 1-3
Bb Bass Clarinet
Bassoon
Bb Trumpet 1-3
French Horn 1-4
Trombone 1-3
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion
(S.D., B.D., Triangle, Tambourine, Gong, Wood Block, Cymbals)
Mallets
(Xylophone, Marimba, Vibraphone, Glockenspiel)
Piano
Harp
Violin 1
Violin 2
Viola
Cello
String Bass

Duration - ca. 5:30

About the Work…
Saddle-Up! is a work with a Western theme. The music was composed over the weekend of March 11-13, 2016. Looking through some pictures near my desk, I came across a picture of my teacher, Francis McBeth holding his saddle. The photo led me to reflect on childhood memories of watching old Western movies. Roy Rogers, John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, etc. Westerns, such as The Cowboys, Rio Bravo, El Dorado, Big Jake, Chisholm, The Magnificent Seven, Silverado, Lonesome Dove, etc. as well as the many western-themed TV shows, The Riflemen, The High Chaparral, Wagon Train, Rawhide, Bonanza, The Big Valley, The Virginian, and The Wild, Wild West. All special memories of my childhood.

I was given a cup by one of my students. It sits on the desk of my home studio. The title Saddle-Up! is borrowed from the John Wayne quote on the cup - "Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway."

Saddle-Up! was not commissioned by any group and was written for the sheer fun of it. It was composed as a gift for and dedicated to the Ouachita Baptist University, Wind Ensemble, Dr. Craig Hamilton, Director.

Outline of Saddle Up!
Ms. 0-7 - Rise and Shine!...We’re Burning Daylight!... Breaking camp
Ms. 8-19 - Saddle-Up!...Move ‘em out.
Ms. 20-51 - The Drive
Ms. 52-64 - Sunset on the PrairieMs. 65-101 - A Night under the StarsMs.102-109 - Sunrise
Ms. 110-116 - Rise and Shine!...We’re Burning Daylight!... Breaking camp Ms. 117-126 - Saddle-Up!...Move ‘em out
Ms. 127-150 - There’s nothing like bringing in a herd.

About the Composer…
Stephen Hill (b.1958) was born and raised in Southern California. His compositional lineage includes the likes of Roy Harris, Ingolf Dahl, Clifton Williams, Bernard Rogers, and Howard Hanson through study with Philip Westin (Cerritos College, 1976-1978) and most notably with W. Francis McBeth at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas (1978-1980). Stephen continued with graduate work at California State University, Los Angeles (1980-83) with composers Dr. Byong Kon Kim and William Hill. He composes for the simple joy of it.

For over 40 years, Stephen taught K-12 instrumental music in the Private Christian School (Whittier Christian) and Public School (California High School) settings. Though semi-retired, Stephen still works with students by continuing to teach part-time at California High School and maintaining his private music studio, where he plays and teaches Woodwinds, Brass, Strings, and Piano. Stephen also plays with the church orchestra at Calvary Chapel in La Habra, CA., where Stephen attends. When teaching full-time, he was primarily a "summer" composer. No longer teaching full-time, Stephen has the privilege to compose beyond just the summer months and publishes through his company, SARAHTIM–a title which comes from simply combining the name of his daughter Sarah and son Timothy.

(About the Composer…Notes by Dr. John Burdett, Azusa Pacific University).