Wellerman

New Zealand Folk Song, arranged by Paul Murtha

Paul Murtha

General Info

Year: c. 1870 / 2021
Duration: c. 1:50
Difficulty: II (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $60.00; (digital) - $60.00   |   Score Only (print) - $5.00

Instrumentation (Flexible)

Full Score
Part 1

• Flute
• Oboe
• B-flat Soprano Clarinet
• B-flat Trumpet
• Violin

Part 2

• B-flat Soprano Clarinet
• E-flat Alto Saxophone
• B-flat Trumpet
• Violin

Part 3

• B-flat Soprano Clarinet
• E-flat Alto Clarinet
• E-flat Alto Saxophone
• B-flat Tenor Saxophone
• Horn in F
• Violin
• Viola

Part 4

• Bassoon
• B-flat Tenor Saxophone
• Trombone
• Euphonium
• Horn in F
• Cello

Part 5

• Bassoon
• B-flat Bass Clarinet
• E-flat Baritone Saxophone
• Trombone
• Euphonium
• Tuba
• String Bass
• Cello

Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

• Bass Drum
• Bells
• Chimes
• Crash Cymbals
• Low Tom
• Rainstick
• Snare Drum
• Suspended Cymbal
• Tambourine
• Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

This well-known whaling song from New Zealand has been at the forefront of the rise in popularity of sea shanties. Featuring a memorable melody, rich harmonies, and a nice mix of textures, here is a great sounding setting scored for flexible instrumentation.

- Program Note from publisher

Soon May the Wellerman Come, also known as Wellerman [c. 1860–70] is a sea shanty. The song frequently refers to the "wellermen", supply ships owned by the British Weller brothers who emigrated to New Zealand. The song's content has drawn praise as "a genuine cultural expression by exploited workers for whom 'sugar and tea and rum' provided a much-needed respite from the drudgery and toil of their daily lives".

In the early 2020s, versions by British folk music group the Longest Johns and Scottish singer Nathan Evans became unlikely viral hits on the social media site TikTok, leading to a "social media craze" around songs erroneously considered sea shanties.

- Program Note from Wikipedia

Media

• Audio: Reference recording. MIDI realization

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches, Tx.) University Band (Christine Colley, conductor) - 18 April 2023

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

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• Bohemian Rhapsody (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1975/2003/2009)
• A Charlie Brown Christmas (Flex Instrumentation) (as arranger) (1965/2003/2013)
• Cool (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1957/2018)
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• Family Guy (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1999/2012)
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• Sweet Georgia Brown (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1925/2021)
• Wellerman (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2021)

All Wind Works

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• Big Band Superhits (as arranger) (2004)
• Billy Joel in Concert (as arranger) (2025)
• Bohemian Rhapsody (as arranger) (1975/2003)
• Bohemian Rhapsody (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1975/2003/2009)
• Broadway Center Stage (as arranger) (1999)
• Can't Buy Me Love (as arranger) (1964/2017)
• Can’t Stop the Feeling! (as arranger) (2016/2017)
• Captain America March (as arranger) (2011)
• Carry On Wayward Son (as arranger)
• A Charlie Brown Christmas (Flex Instrumentation) (as arranger) (1965/2003/2013)
• Cherokee (as arranger) (1938/)
• Chicken Run: Main Titles (as arranger)
• Chorale from "Jupiter" (as arranger) (1916/2001)
• Classic Duke (as adapter, arr. Henderson) (2008)
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• Come Sunday (as arranger) (1943/2007)
• Cool (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1957/2018)
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• Christmas Vacation (as arranger) (1989/2025)
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• Forward March! (2000)
• Frederick's Black Devils (2017)
• Free Ride (as arranger) (1972/2017)
• Front and Center! (2001)
• Gee, Officer Krupke (as arranger)
• Glenn Miller in Concert (as arranger) (2007)
• Guardians of Liberty (2004)
• Here Comes Santa Claus (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1947/2014)
• Heroic Fanfare (2004/2016)
• Hit the Road Jack (as arranger) (1961/2001)
• Holiday Funny Favorites (as arranger) (2003)
• Holiday Swing-Along (as arranger) (2001)
• Hooked on a Feeling (as arranger) (1968/1996/2017)
• The Imperial March (as arranger) (1977/2018)
• In the Mood (as arranger)
• The Incredibles (as arranger) (2004/2005)
• The Incredibles (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2004/2007)
• Into the Unknown (as arranger) (2019)
• Irving Berlin: From Rags to Ritz (as arranger with Snyder) (2011)
• Journey in Concert (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2019)
• The Joyful Bells of Christmas (as arranger) (2006)
• Jump, Jive an' Swing (as arranger) (2010)
• Lady Liberty March (2017)
• The Legend of Castle Armagh (2014)
• Legends of Rock! (as arranger) (2008)
• Let It Go (as arranger)
• Libertango (as arranger) (1974/2016)
• Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1900/2021)
• Linus and Lucy (as arranger) (1964/2002)
• Live and Let Die (as arranger) (1973/2015)
• Livin' on a Prayer (as arranger) (1986/2008)
• MacArthur Park (as arranger) (1967/2024)
• The Mandalorian (as arranger) (2019/2020)
• The Mandalorian (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2019/2020)
• Maria (as arranger) (1957/2003)
• Mission: Impossible Theme (as arranger) (1966/2006)
• Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (as arranger)
• Motown Revue (as arranger) (1998)
• The Muppet Show Theme (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1976/2012)
• Music from "Black Panther" (as arranger) (2018)
• A Musical Journey Through New Orleans (as arranger)
• My Heart Will Go On (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1997/2012)
• New Hampshire Hornpipe (as arranger) (1998)
• A Night in Tunisia (as arranger) (1941-2/2012)
• The Nineties (as arranger) (2001)
• The OBM March (2024)
• Peter Gunn (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1958/2015)
• Pokémon Theme (as arranger)
• Polka Party (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2013)
• Powerhouse (as arranger) (1937/2013)
• Presidents Day Parade (2008)
• Prince in Concert (as arranger) (2005)
• Queen of Soul (as arranger) (2019)
• Queen on Stage (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1980/2017)
• Radioactive (as arranger) (2012)
• Reflection
• Rhapsody in Blue (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1924/2020)
• Rocking Christmas
• Runaway Baby (as arranger) (2010/2012)
• Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (as arranger) (1934/2024)
• Selections from "Encanto" (as arranger) (2021)
• Selections from "Incredibles 2" (as arranger) (2004/2018)
• Selections from "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2017)
• Selections from "The Greatest Showman" (as arranger) (2017)
• September (as arranger) (1978/2010)
• Seven Nation Army (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2003/2017)
• Shallow (as arranger) (2018/2019)
• Shrek Dance Party (as arranger) (2003)
• The Simpsons (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1990/2008)
• Smoke on the Water (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1972/2008)
• Something (as arranger) (2011)
• The Sousa Scramble (as arranger)
• Spain (as arranger) (1973/1982/2017)
• The Star-Spangled Banner (as editor; orch. Sousa) (1814/1918/)
• Stevie Wonder in Concert (as arranger)
• Suite for Jazz Violin and Band (2004)
• Superstition (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1972/2009)
• Sweet Child o' Mine (as arranger) (1987/2017)
• Sweet Georgia Brown (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1925/2021)
• Take on Me (as arranger) (1984/2016)
• Tribute to Harry James (as arranger)
• Tricked Out Trombones (2007)
• Wellerman (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2021)

Resources

• Creative Repertoire Initiative
• Murtha Music Services Accessed 12 May 2021
• Perusal score
• Wellerman. Wikipedia. Accessed 12 May 2021