Sentinel

Sentinel juxtaposes the celebratory fanfare commonly found in patriotic music. The intense music tells a story of unwavering focus and forward motion, all while paying tribute to these Unknown Soldiers and their forthcoming Sentinels today and into the future.

DOWNLOAD OPTIONAL WIND ENSEMBLE PARTS

Program Notes

The Sentinel stands watch at the entrance of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Through day and night and rain or shine, they protect the tomb of those that paid the ultimate price for their country. Musically speaking, the piece juxtaposes the celebratory fanfare commonly found in patriotic music. The intense music tells a story of unwavering focus and forward motion, all while paying tribute to these Unknown Soldiers and their forthcoming Sentinels today and into the future.

The instrumentation is widely flexible from a quartet of drums to a full percussion ensemble and beyond to a full concert band. This is not only to provide flexibility to a wide variety of performing ensembles, but it also represents the ever-expanding body of different services, roles, and individuals in the various branches of the military. This piece further pays homage to service bands and musicians across the country.

-M.C.

Grade Level: Medium Easy
Copyright: 2023
Number of Players: 4+
Duration: 2:10

Listen to Recording

Sample PDF

Watch Video

Instrumentation

Required for Performance Player 1: Piccolo Snare Drum (or Marching Snare Drum) Player 2: Concert Snare Drum Player 3: Field Drum (or Medium Tom) Player 4: Concert Bass Drum Flexible Percussion Ensemble While each part is optional, they bring a further depth to the overall colors in this sound world. The director may add them in any combination according to availability and discretion. Metals 1: Glockenspiel and/or Vibraphone (8va) Metals 2: Glockenspiel and/or Vibraphone Metals 3: Vibraphone and/or Chimes Woods 1: Xylophone and/or Marimba 8va [4.3-octave] Woods 2: Xylophone and/or Marimba [4.3-octave] Woods 3: Marimba [4.3-octave], Marimba (8vb) [5-octave], and/or MIDI Mallet Controller Timpani [2 drums] Crash Cymbals Suspended Cymbal Tam-Tam Optional Concert Band Parts (Reduced Score) This sound world may be further enhanced with the forces of a full concert band. These parts may not be individually added (similar to the optional percussion parts) but only ever as an entire band. Flute Oboe Bassoon B-flat Clarinet 1 B-flat Clarinet 2 B-flat Clarinet 3 B-flat Bass Clarinet E-flat Alto Saxophone 1 E-flat Alto Saxophone 2 B-flat Tenor Saxophone E-flat Baritone Saxophone B-flat Trumpet 1 B-flat Trumpet 2 F Horn Trombone Euphonium B-flat Baritone T.C. Tuba