Hougoumont

by
Peter Meechan

Ensemble: Wind Orchestra

Additional Performing Forces: Narrator

Grade: 4.5

Duration: 13:30

Year of Composition: 2013

Commissioned by: Band of the Coldstream Guards (Maj. Darren Wolfdale, director of music)

Premiered by: Band of the Coldstream Guards (Maj. Darren Wolfdale, director of music)

Date of Premiere: February 14, 2013

Publisher: Peter Meechan

Year of Publication: 2013

Publisher Catalog Number: PMM093

Available: Yes

How to Acquire: Publisher, Purchase

Links:

Web Page

Sample Audio

Perusal Score 

Instrumentation

Narrator
Piccolo
Flutes 1,2
Oboe
Bassoon
E♭ Clarinet
B♭ Clarinets 1,2,3,4 (4th doubling E♭ Alto Clarinet)
B♭ Bass Clarinet
E♭ Alto Saxes 1,2
B♭ Tenor Sax
E♭ Baritone Sax
B♭ Trumpets 1,2,3
F Horns 1,2,3,4
Trombones 1,2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion (4 players):
1. Bass Drum, Timpani
2. Glockenspiel, Snare Drum, Tam-tam, Tubular Bells, Vibraphone
3. Vibraphone, Bass Drum
4. Marimba, Xylophone, Snare Drum, Tenor Drum


Program Notes:

Content warning: War

Commissioned by the Band of the Coldstream Guards to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Coldstream Guards Association, Hougoumont is a work for band and narrator that tells the story of the battle at Hougoumont Farm, a battle which the Duke of Wellington himself said was the single battle that led to victory in the battle of Waterloo.

Hougoumont opens with a saxophone solo, a lone soldier, having wearily made their way to Quatre Bras, in desperate need of rest and sleep. Instead, the order comes through to move on to Hougoumont Farm. The battle at Hougoumont follows, with musket fire heard in shock notes through the band. The final, sombre, passage reflects on the victory (the chorale in the brass) before reflecting on the 1500 casualties suffered in the battle.

(Peter Meechan)