Rock, River, Tree by Michael Sweeney

To purchase print edition or for more info: goo.gl/HDRGNl
To purchase, download and print instantly: bit.ly/2SIzxJX
MusicWorks - Grade 2
Drawing inspiration from American poet Maya Angelou's inspirational poem “On the Pulse of Morning,” this unique work for band offers challenges and rewards for young players. Using the imagery of “a rock, a river, a tree,” Angelou challenges us all to work for unity and peace. The music ranges from an energetic percussive pulse (rock) that utilizes plastic buckets played throughout the ensemble, to a flowing chorale theme (river) that's heard near the beginning and again at the end. Throughout, the piece grows and intensifies (tree) as various musical elements are combined and varied. Dramatic music with important cross-curricular opportunities!
HL04004305
HL04004306

[@DahjHaiska]

As a trombone player, I will never forget the upbeat part, or this song. Me an d my fellow trombonists very much enjoyed playing this, and it's on my top 3 most beautiful songs list that we've played this year!!

[@apuji7555]

I remember, in like 5th or 6th grade, I tried out for our honors ensemble and the flutes had to play a section of this piece. I must of tried at least 10 times, but I still didn't get in. When I heard it during the concert, it was amazing, I wish I had gotten in. But band was still one of the best experiences of middle school, and I will never forget it.

[@leethompson6773]

At my school we r playing this song for the band festival

[@EvansOrigami01]

I love this tbh...

[@lukenotskywlkr]

_Baritone player (me) is salty because the Trumpets stole my glory_

[@pottasiumprodigy8157]

(Me, an individual who plays the trumpet.) Well, sORRy

[@domchubs5836]

We got the solo though and played the good part first

[@irisfrost5767]

Me a percussionist not paying attention to the other sections: this is so fun

[@char2723]

Sorry man, we trumpets gotta over power the clarinets 🎺

[@XlX_Invictus_XlX]

Tuba player (me) has alot of rests in the beginning and end. But we still get some solid parts.

[@sebastianperez9857]

The bass part is awesome!!

[@payphonequarters]

It’s definitely my favorite part

[@ruppsoccerful]

Just played this recently for my MS spring concert. This was probably the best piece on the program or at least one of.

[@guineapiglover8614]

Thank you for posting this! It's really helping me with the piece when im not working on it in band...

[@austin8647]

Bass clarinet best music ever

[@desireeparks4930]

Oh my god same!! Its so good

[@meganmaynor52]

as there a few pauses on the clarinets in band class. it feels like I'm the only one who is dancing to the beat huehuehue .3.

[@hotslommy23]

We’re playing this at region band for the southern part of Ga, and it’s pretty neat

[@everyonemakesmusicstudentf4062]

wonderful!

[@tiffanyzhou5563]

I love how the flutes play only about 1/3 of this piece! 😅

[@karlygirty1502]

Tiffany Zhou ya I'm playing the flute in this song and it sucks

[@taeghanjo4870]

I play the flute. I counted 64 measures of rest, with just the multiple rest areas and there's (I can't remember) like 100+ mesures

[@dantevs_]

Flutes are prone to getting melody in music, while lows are stuck counting rests, or playing mundane rhythms. Guess you know how it feels now, eh?

[@ironwolf1110]

The low brass instruments are complaining about how hard their part because they finally have the melody too

[@apuji7555]

@@dantevs_ I had the same feeling with one of our trumpet players. Cause usually in many of our pieces, the flutes would have an ostinato of some kind. And when the trumpets had one they were complaining.

[@jacksonbare9147]

Played this for district honor band GA (tuba) loved it

[@vronvronvron]

My old band is playing this and all of my best friends are there and I had to move and I really want to play this

[@Toutifrouti1001]

We played this my 8th grade year for our cpa performance and got all 1’s 🤞🏽🤞🏽

[@payphonequarters]

Same!!

[@zach4042]

Just sight read this song. It sounded so goooood. Unfortunately not playing it :(

[@scarlet7660]

Playing this in my 7/8th grade band I play an alto sax ✌🎷

[@5-timez-backmultiverse846]

scarlet Vallejo same, i play Trombone 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼

[@favouroyewole4945]

yesss omg same

[@thisransomguy8533]

Same here we played it like maybe 2 to 3 months ago

[@user-nr1io9xl3i]

The French Horns sound really nice

[@hanmingsun1301]

It's amazing. :D

[@elainez9815]

best song ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@thechicagobean3285]

I’m playing this in my band class

[@asadunn9339]

I feel like I'm the only one here who had to play this in freshman year...even then I just began last year so... but I was a tuba. Wasn't hard getting to advanced last year.

[@desireeparks4930]

I played this freshman year too. I'm a Bass Clarinet though and the Tuba in my band is a junior.

[@favouroyewole4945]

you're not the only one meeee tooooooo

[@ronanmullarkey8432]

@@desireeparks4930 same here lol

[@mikamonno6678]

playing this next week at our final concert and my final concer..😞😞 I'm moving to another school and I won't be playing band 😭

[@sharonforeman3495]

Im playing this song in band right now, and it is an experince playing a song writen after the poem at the anuguration of former president Bill Clinton

[@kimreyes1247]

+Blake Robinson Really in 8th grade playing this I guess we are a really advanced band ❤️

[@karlygirty1502]

Kim Reyes same

[@andrewpelayo778]

Our 6th grade band played this.

[@Eric-kh3xv]

My band in 6th grade also played this. I am a trombone and it’s so fun to play!

[@oliviacai4230]

+Eric Liu hi eric

[@Eric-kh3xv]

Hi Olivia, this song is pretty boring for you correct?

[@sharonforeman3495]

I also play the trombone

[@jacobsim3971]

I play the Timpani in my school band with this song

[@blep8897]

nice i'm playing trumpet for this song

[@baileybrooks220]

I played the vibraphone and bucket in this song it was easy once your band got into it

[@ToBe_Continued]

2:12 Needed for personal reasons

[@Dreamycinnamoroll_]

It sounds like something from Narnia.

[@apuji7555]

Band truly was a community, and a great one at that. It was amazing, and I will never forget it.

[@kimreyes1247]

I'm playing this song in my 6th grade band!❤️

[@blakerobinson7421]

+Kimberly Reyes 6th grade?! I doubt our 8th grade band is ready to play this one! We were freaking out when we saw the sheet music, like "How are we gonna pull this off?"

[@jareddelgado5033]

+Blake Robinson its not as hard as the march "mighty mite" go look it up its pretty dang hard

[@jareddelgado5033]

we're plating it for competition

[@sophiahou6228]

Hey are you in my band I think you play flute right?

[@HawkeClan69]

@@blakerobinson7421 I did actually play this piece in 8th grade

[@jimmyhoang2562]

[@IsabelVyner]

I have to ply this at Iowna Music Cetre I play clarinet and I cant play low notes or high notes D:

[@kimreyes1247]

+Blake Robinson And this isn't that hardest song that our band played

[@back1879]

I always say this sounds like music that would be in PVZ 2

[@destroyedbyyuppiepowers]

no.

[@UbeenBILLED]

Yeah no.

[@samstiles5166]

Hell no

[@howedbringens8013]

Trumpet and Bari sax

[@jennatulls9225]

What is the bpm for this song?

[@codeyreumkens5307]

my band plays this we are really good i play this bass just wanted to hear it

[@sujinleek3992]

Bass is a string instrument. What are you saying?

[@IsabelVyner]

Yes its a string instrument. what about it. In my band we have 2 bass guitars.

[@andrewpelayo778]

he could also be playing any instrument but just playing the bass line

[@sydneysloan4446]

I play tuba in this. It’s so amazing. We finally have the melody for once. I’ve never had the melody in my 3 years of playing. Even in marching band 😂

[@oliviawitcher8855]

I love me some trombone !!

[@chloewagenknecht8618]

I'm playing this in seventh grade

[@hailytriplet1743]

So am I, but I'm the one of the only ones in my section that can actually play my instrument……but I love the part at 49 with the low woodwinds, brass, and clarinets. I have a rest, but I like the way it sounds.

[@davidbensch5757]

frankie arma 3 videos this would be great

[@rheachand1734]

I thought this peice was a 2.5

[@YoutubeAndy6905]

3:44 Tuba didn’t play smh

[@sharonforeman3495]

im in 6th grade

[@Link9058]

my band coped the description almost word by word. im not impressed with them