Prelude from 49th Parallel (Vaughan Williams)

From the film "49th Parallel," this Prelude is a hymn in praise of freedom and mutual trust, which accompanies the film's prologue which is spoken over majestic shots of the Canadian Rockies. Osmon's orchestration retains the rich texture of the original, utilizing thick scoring throughout. The entire Prelude is played molto legato and its harmonies show a delightful simplicity.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 4 | Duration: 2:30

Instrumentation
1st Flute
2nd Flute
Oboes
Cor Anglais*
1st Bb Clarinet
2nd Bb Clarinet
3rd Bb Clarinet
Eb Alto Clarinet*
Bb Bass Clarinet*
Eb Contralto Clarinet
1st Bassoon
2nd Bassoon*
1st Eb Alto Saxophone
2nd Eb Alto Saxophone*
Bb Tenor Saxophone
Eb Baritone Saxophone*

1st Bb Trumpet
2nd Bb Trumpet
3rd Bb Trumpet
1st F Horn
2nd F Horn
3rd F Horn
4th F Horn*
1st Trombone
2nd Trombone*
3rd Trombone
Euphonium
(TC Baritone)
Tuba

String Bass*

Timpani

Parts marked with as asterisk (*) are NOT ESSENTIAL, although their presence will obviously enable a fuller realization of the composer's intentions to be achieved.

Program Notes
Ralph Vaughan Williams was in his sixties when in 1941 he produced his first film score for Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's "49th Parallel." The Prelude, an orchestral hymn in praise of freedom and mutual trust, accompanies the film's prologue which is spoken over majestic shots of the Canadian Rockies.

The Prelude was originally scored for strings and a few wind instruments. Osmon's orchestration retains the rich texture of the original, utilizing thick scoring throughout. The entire Prelude is played molto legato and its harmonies show a delightful simplicity

Osmon's orchestration was completed in December 1987 and is "dedicated to my friend Lee Boyd Montgomery."