On The Shoulders of Giants - PDF Score and Parts

O N   T H E   S H O U L D E R S   O F   G I A N T S  for Concert Band 
Composed by Lachlan Pierce
Grade 3
Written in Summer 2017 in Colorado Springs, Colorado
 
W H A T   T H I S   I N C L U D E S
PDFs of the score and parts (letter sized - 8.5"x11")
Reference recording
Cover art
 
Physical score sold separately. No refunds for digital products.
 
C O M P O S E R ‘ S   N O T E S
We all are where we are now more or less because of the people who came before us, who taught us, who motivated us to be greater out of passion, inspiration, or perhaps even spite. On the Shoulders of Giants strives to capture the journey one has of finding their bliss, their path in life, based off of those they surrounded themselves with. In a way, this piece is illustrating my own personal journey as I looked to others who helped trail blaze my path, whether they knew they were or not. Acknowledging that we are living the way we do because of other people coming before us does not cheapen our own journeys—rather, we can use the achievements of the past to springboard ourselves to achieve even more and carve the way for those ahead of us. This is the beauty of advancement, of innovation, and of humankind.
 
I wanted to write a piece that did justice to this idea that we are all standing on the shoulders of giants. The beginning is delicate with a hint of caution, showing the start of the protagonist’s journey. The protagonist is soon overwhelmed and humbled as they reflect on all the progress humankind has made before them. These heavy feeling sensations are soon turned positive as the protagonist chooses to be inspired by their predecessors to create something new, yet somewhat familiar. This pushing of new concepts and ideas builds to a fantastic climactic fanfare, showing the success of the protagonist after all of their hard work and study. The piece begins to die down at the end, going back to a more serene tone similar to the beginning. The final chord sounds unresolved, hinting that there is still work to be done by the next generation.

On the Shoulders of Giants was commissioned by the Cheyenne Mountain Junior High Symphonic Band in Colorado Springs, Colorado, directed by Dan Bell and Brian Margrave, for their 2018 Colorado Music Education Association (CMEA) conference performance.
 
I N S T R U M E N T A T I O N
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe
Bassoon
Bb Clarinet 1
Bb Clarinet 2
Bb Clarinet 3
Bb Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Bb Trumpet 1
Bb Trumpet 2
Bb Trumpet 3
F Horn 1
F Horn 2
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Glockenspiel
Vibraphone (opt. Marimba 1)
Marimba (opt. Marimba 2)
Tambourine
Snare Drum
Tam Tam
Bass Drum
Cymbals
Piano