Amber Waves

Amber Waves was born from the composers love for our great country. Full and sonorous scoring brings to life the brilliant landscapes around this land. Patriotic melodies can be heard woven in to the texture, the most notable being 'My Country Tis of Thee.'

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 5 | Duration: 13:30

Instrumentation
Piccolo 1/2
Flute 1 (3 players)
Flute 2 (3 players)
Oboe 1/2
English Horn
Bassoon 1/2
Eb Clarinet
Bb Clarinet 1 (2 players)
Bb Clarinet 2 (3 players)
Bb Clarinet 3 (3 players)
Bb Bass Clarinet
Eb Alto Saxophone 1/2
Bb Tenor Saxophone
Eb Baritone Saxophone

Bb Trumpet 1/2
Bb Trumpet 3/4
Bb Trumpet 5
F Horn 1/2
F Horn 3/4
Tenor Trombone 1/2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba (1-3 players)
Contrabass

Piano
Synthetic Celeste
Harp

Timpani
Percussion 1 (Bells, Snare Drum, Woodblock, Large Suspended Cymbal, Crotales)
Percussion 2 (Large Suspended Cymbal, Vibraphone, Chimes, Large Tam-Tam)

Program Notes
In general Amber Waves is a celebration of American freedom inspired by several brilliant landscapes and sights from around our beautiful and blessed land. There are also several patriotic melodies heard in this composition – some are disguised or varied. Most notably what I view as the universal hymn of freedom, My Country 'Tis of Thee is the cornerstone of the work.

My Country 'Tis of Thee
Written by: Samuel Francis Smith

My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of Liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrim's pride!
From ev'ry mountain side,
Let freedom ring!

My native country thee
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love.
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills,
Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees,
Sweet freedom's song.
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
the sound prolong.

Our fathers' God, to Thee,
Author of Liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright,
With freedom's holy light;
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King!