Classical Gas
Mason Williams (arr. Ralph Ford)
Subtitle: As Performed by Mason Williams and Tommy Emmanuel
General Info
Year: 1968 / 2014
Duration: c. 3:15
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Guitar and orchestra
Publisher: Alfred Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $77.00 | Score Only (print) - $10.00
Instrumentation
- Full Score
- Solo Mallets
- Solo Guitar
- Flute I-II
- Oboe
- Bassoon
- B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
- B-flat Bass Clarinet
- E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
- B-flat Tenor Saxophone
- E-flat Baritone Saxophone
- B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
- Horn in F I-II
- Trombone I-II-III
- Euphonium
- Tuba
- Electric Bass
- Timpani
- Percussion I-II, including:
- *Drum Set
- *Suspended Cymbal
- *Tambourine
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Released in 1968 by composer/guitarist Mason Williams, Classical Gas hit the charts with a powerful combination of acoustic guitar accompanied by symphonic orchestra. Over the past forty years, it has not only been considered a "standard" for amateur and professional guitarists, it has also been arranged for countless other instrumental soloists and ensembles, as well as appearing in countless movies and television broadcasts. This latest arrangement for solo guitar (or mallet percussion on vibraphone or marimba) and concert band celebrates this popular classic by combining elements of the original recording and a recent interpretation by world-renowned guitarist Tommy Emmanuel.
This arrangement was originally commissioned by the West Vancouver Youth Band, West Vancouver, British Columbia, and their conductor, Douglas Macauley, featuring Thomas Beag, guitar solist.
- Program Note from score
In 1968, Williams won three Grammy Awards for Classical Gas. The work was released as a single from The Mason Williams Phonograph Record in 1968. Classical Gas won three Grammys that year for "Best Instrumental (theme) Composition", "Best Instrumental (theme) Performance", and "Best Instrumental Orchestra Arrangement", Mike Post, arranger. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.
- Program Note from Wikipedia
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Golden Gate Park Band (San Francisco, Calif.) (German Gonzalez, conductor) – 19 May 2024
- Westside Community Band (Cincinnati, Ohio) (Kenny Bierschenk, conductor; Vince Rahnfeld, guitar) – 13 October 2019
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Classical Gas (arr. Ford) (1968/2014)
Resources
- Classical Gas. Wikipedia. Accessed 19 May 2024
- Mason Williams website. Accessed 19 May 2024
- Perusal score
- Williams, M. (2014). Classical Gas: As Performed by Mason Williams and Tommy Emmanuel [score]. Belwin Band: [s.l.].