Molly Pitcher The American Legend Series by Steve Dunn Concert Band - Sheet Music
By Steve DunnMolly Pitcher was composed in 2019 as part of my annual commitment to create a piece to be premiered by our University of Mobile High School Honor Band. This piece is the fourth installment in a multi-work series for wind band called The American Legends and is based on what appear to be at least probable, real events.During the American Revolution, cannon crews for the Continental Army often had family members, including wives, that traveled with them. As the stories go, it was common for these wives to have the critical job of carrying water for the crews and other troops, often earning the nickname of "Molly Pitcher." There are many stories of occurrences where the husband in the cannon crew was injured or killed during the fighting and the wife stepped in to help with firing the cannon to the end of the battle. (The best known women connected to these stories are probably Mary Hays at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778 and Margaret Corbin at the defense of Fort Washington in 1776.)The beginning of the piece sets the tone for battle, including muted or off-stage trumpets representing the British with snippets of Rule Brittania, horns quoting Yankee Doodle for the Continental Army, and winds playing a lovely original theme for Molly. The battle begins and a crash signifies the fall of her husband. She mourns briefly and then steps in to man the cannon as the piece moves to a huge ending.Performance suggestionsDynamics, especially the long crescendos/diminuendos in the first portion of the work, are a huge part of the effectiveness of the piece. Feel free to "overdo" those dynamics. If it is possible, using a more traditional field drum for the snare parts rather than a modern concert snare drum will add to the authenticity of the time period and musical experience. If you have or can create sound effects to represent the crashing of cannons in battle, here’s your chance to use them!.Molly Pitcher was composed in 2019 as part of my annual commitment to create a piece to be premiered by our University of Mobile High School Honor Band. This piece is the fourth installment in a multi-work series for wind band called The American Legends and is based on what appear to be at least probable, real events.During the American Revolution, cannon crews for the Continental Army often had family members, including wives, that traveled with them. As the stories go, it was common for these wives to have the critical job of carrying water for the crews and other troops, often earning the nickname of “Molly Pitcher.” There are many stories of occurrences where the husband in the cannon crew was injured or killed during the fighting and the wife stepped in to help with firing the cannon to the end of the battle. (The best known women connected to these stories are probably Mary Hays at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778 and Margaret Corbin at the defense of Fort Washington in 1776.)The beginning of the piece sets the tone for battle, including muted or off-stage trumpets representing the British with snippets of Rule Brittania, horns quoting Yankee Doodle for the Continental Army, and winds playing a lovely original theme for Molly. The battle begins and a crash signifies the fall of her husband. She mourns briefly and then steps in to man the cannon as the piece moves to a huge ending.Performance suggestionsDynamics, especially the long crescendos/diminuendos in the first portion of the work, are a huge part of the effectiveness of the piece. Feel free to “overdo” those dynamics. If it is possible, using a more traditional field drum for the snare parts rather than a modern concert snare drum will add to the authenticity of the time period and musical experience. If you have or can create sound effects to represent the crashing of cannons in battle, here’s your chance to use them!
Details
Summary
- Instrument:
- B-Flat Clarinet Bass Clarinet Tenor Saxophone Baritone Saxophone Alto Saxophone B-Flat Trumpet
- Ensembles:
- Concert Band
- Composers:
- Steve Dunn
- Publishers:
- Carl Fischer Music
- UPC:
- 798408101190
- ISBN:
- 9781491168233
- Format:
- Score Set of Parts Score and Parts
- Item types:
- Physical
- Level:
- Grade 4
- Artist:
- Steve Dunn
- Usages:
- School and Community
- Main Key:
- Bb major
- Number of Pages:
- 200
- Size:
- 9x12 inches
- Shipping Weight:
- 1.84 pounds
Detailed Description
SKU: CF.SPS106
The American Legend Series. Composed by Steve Dunn. This edition: folio. Folio. Score and parts. Composed 2025. 200 pages. Duration 0:06:36. Carl Fischer Music #SPS106. Published by Carl Fischer Music (CF.SPS106).ISBN 9781491168233. UPC: 798408101190. 9x12 inches. Key: Bb major.
Molly Pitcher was composed in 2019 as part of my annual commitment to create a piece to be premiered by our University of Mobile High School Honor Band. This piece is the fourth installment in a multi-work series for wind band called The American Legends and is based on what appear to be at least probable, real events.During the American Revolution, cannon crews for the Continental Army often had family members, including wives, that traveled with them. As the stories go, it was common for these wives to have the critical job of carrying water for the crews and other troops, often earning the nickname of "Molly Pitcher." There are many stories of occurrences where the husband in the cannon crew was injured or killed during the fighting and the wife stepped in to help with firing the cannon to the end of the battle. (The best known women connected to these stories are probably Mary Hays at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778 and Margaret Corbin at the defense of Fort Washington in 1776.)The beginning of the piece sets the tone for battle, including muted or off-stage trumpets representing the British with snippets of Rule Brittania, horns quoting Yankee Doodle for the Continental Army, and winds playing a lovely original theme for Molly. The battle begins and a crash signifies the fall of her husband. She mourns briefly and then steps in to man the cannon as the piece moves to a huge ending.Performance suggestionsDynamics, especially the long crescendos/diminuendos in the first portion of the work, are a huge part of the effectiveness of the piece. Feel free to "overdo" those dynamics. If it is possible, using a more traditional field drum for the snare parts rather than a modern concert snare drum will add to the authenticity of the time period and musical experience. If you have or can create sound effects to represent the crashing of cannons in battle, here’s your chance to use them!.
Molly Pitcher was composed in 2019 as part of my annual commitment to create a piece to be premiered by our University of Mobile High School Honor Band. This piece is the fourth installment in a multi-work series for wind band called The American Legends and is based on what appear to be at least probable, real events.During the American Revolution, cannon crews for the Continental Army often had family members, including wives, that traveled with them. As the stories go, it was common for these wives to have the critical job of carrying water for the crews and other troops, often earning the nickname of “Molly Pitcher.” There are many stories of occurrences where the husband in the cannon crew was injured or killed during the fighting and the wife stepped in to help with firing the cannon to the end of the battle. (The best known women connected to these stories are probably Mary Hays at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778 and Margaret Corbin at the defense of Fort Washington in 1776.)The beginning of the piece sets the tone for battle, including muted or off-stage trumpets representing the British with snippets of Rule Brittania, horns quoting Yankee Doodle for the Continental Army, and winds playing a lovely original theme for Molly. The battle begins and a crash signifies the fall of her husband. She mourns briefly and then steps in to man the cannon as the piece moves to a huge ending.Performance suggestionsDynamics, especially the long crescendos/diminuendos in the first portion of the work, are a huge part of the effectiveness of the piece. Feel free to “overdo” those dynamics. If it is possible, using a more traditional field drum for the snare parts rather than a modern concert snare drum will add to the authenticity of the time period and musical experience. If you have or can create sound effects to represent the crashing of cannons in battle, here’s your chance to use them!
Similar Sheet Music & Digital Downloads
- More by this Composer:
- Steve Dunn Steve Dunn Choir Steve Dunn B-Flat Clarinet Steve Dunn Bass Clarinet
- Instrument:
- Woodwinds Clarinet B-Flat Clarinet Woodwinds Clarinet Bass Clarinet Woodwinds Saxophone Tenor Saxophone Woodwinds Saxophone Baritone Saxophone Woodwinds Saxophone Alto Saxophone Brass Trumpet B-Flat Trumpet
- Artists:
- Steve Dunn
- Ensemble:
- Concert Band
- Publisher:
- Carl Fischer Music