May the Road Rise to Meet You (Band Gr. 3.5)

May The Road Rise To Meet You is a lush, expressive work for concert band. Written in the style of a Celtic air, the beautifully lyrical melodies are inspired by a traditional Irish blessing wishing one good fortune on the journey of life. The simple, yet powerful message will resonate with audiences all over the world.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Series: Emerald Band Series
Level: 3.5 | Duration: 4:00

Instrumentation
Conductor's Score

Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Clarinet 1
B-flat Clarinet 2
B-flat Clarinet 3
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

B-flat Trumpet 1
B-flat Trumpet 2
B-flat Trumpet 3
F Horn 1
F Horn 2
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Euphonium
B-flat Baritone T.C.
Tuba

Timpani [3 drums]
Bells
Vibraphone & Chimes
Percussion 1: Suspended Cymbal, Bass Drum
Percussion 2: Mark Tree, Triangle, Crash Cymbals

Program Notes
May The Road Rise To Meet You is a lush, expressive work for concert band. Written in the style of a Celtic air, the beautifully lyrical melodies are inspired by an Irish blessing which reads, in part:

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
The rains fall soft upon your fields

The blessing is a traditional way of wishing someone good fortune on the journey of life. It is a simple yet powerful message that has resonated with people all over the world.

(My mother comes from a large Irish American family of eleven children, which also meant lots of cousins for me. I have many fond childhood memories of large family gatherings at my grandmother's house in the picturesque Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago. Over the years, through good times and bad times, family has remained a cornerstone of my life. This piece is written, in part, as a tribute to the enduring beauty of a family's love.)

– S.J.P.