a multi-movement orchestral suite by Nolan Stolz
Completed in 2013 commemorating the 100th anniversary of the historic highway
List of movements:
Download the PDF of the score HERE
Download the PDF of the version for band HERE
To listen to the Lincoln Highway Suite recorded by the Brno Philharmonic (Mikel Toms, cond.) on Bandcamp, go to the page for each movement separately.
The Brno Philharmonic recording is also available on Amazon, iTunes, CDBaby, Naxos, or directly from the record label, Ablaze Records.
This recording was awarded Second Place in the American Prize's Ernst Bacon Award in 2020. David Katz, the chief judge for the American Prize, said Stolz "evidenced skills in the use of the orchestra, in the ability to create telling emotional states, and in evoking genres and styles virtually instantaneously." Katz described the third movement of the suite, "Prairie View," as "emotionally compelling and heartfelt."
Fanfare Magazine called it a "brilliant piece of Americana. . .a piece of inspiration and skill" saying that the "orchestration is brilliantly managed" and "Stolz clearly has a fine repository of [melodies] in his back pocket."
Click HERE to listen to live recordings by the Dubuque Symphony (William Intriligator, cond.), DuPage Symphony (Barbara Schubert, cond.), Kansas State University (David Littrell, cond.), and the Spartanburg Philharmonic (Stefan Sanders, cond.) In 2014, the Sandhills Symphony Orchestra (NE) became the first to perform the entire suite, followed by the DuPage Symphony Orchestra (IL) in 2015. The Brno Philharmonic Orchestra (Czech Republic) recorded the suite in 2017 and commercially released it on Ablaze Records in 2018. The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Symphonic Band was the first to perform the band version in its entirety. Other orchestras that have performed individual movements from the suite include the Clinton Symphony Orchestra, Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, Joliet Symphony Orchestra, Kansas State University Symphony, Metropolitan State University of Denver Symphony Orchestra, Shoreline Symphony, and the Spartanburg Philharmonic. Bands that have performed selections from the concert band version include ensembles from Ashford University (IA), Cornell College (IA), Kirkwood Community College (IA), Kutztown University (PA), Los Angeles Symphonic Winds, Omaha Symphonic Winds, Prairie State College (IL), San Francisco State University, and Winthrop University (SC).
Conductors: there is a MIDI mockup version on Soundcloud for tempo references. Contact the composer directly for parts (PDF, rental, or purchase) at nolan@nolanstolz.com and stolz@uscupstate.edu
The Lincoln Highway, America's first cross-country highway (established in 1913) connects two very exciting cities: New York and San Francisco. The music heard in the outer movements ("From the Hudson" and "Golden State Romp") represent this vibrancy. Either movement can work as an opener or as a finale, so the piece may be performed "Westward" (I-V) or "Eastward" (V-I). "Metals Heartland," incorporating some metallic percussion, depicts the area sometimes pejoratively referred to as the "Rust Belt" (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Eastern Illinois). "Prairie View" paints the scenery along the Lincoln Highway from the tall-grass prairies of Illinois and Iowa to the mixed- and short-grass prairies of Nebraska and Eastern Wyoming. "Traversing the Mountains" takes the listener along the Lincoln from Wyoming, through Colorado and Utah, and across Nevada.
The Eastern terminus of the Lincoln Highway is located in Times Square. The fast tempo of "From The Hudson" (NY, NJ) represents the fast-paced life in New York (City). There are jazz-like elements as well: brass with Harmon mutes, walking bass lines and percussion played with brushes.
"Metals Heartland" (PA, WV, OH, IN, IL) opens with the sounds of metal being struck in a mechanical manner, like workers laboring away in a factory. In contrast, a beautiful, soaring melody represents the gorgeous rural views on finds along the Lincoln in this part of the country.
"Prairie View" (IL, IA, NE, WY) has a static, gentle and open quality that reflects the open prairies of the Midwest. Its middle section has more motion, and it represents the rolling hills over which the Lincoln navigates.
The intimidating mountains of the West are heard in "Traversing the Mountains" (WY, CO, UT, NV) as large, loud dissonant chords. Between these mountains are flat, serene valleys; the gentle melodies between these chords represent the road as it travels through the valleys.
The Lincoln's Western terminus is located in San Francisco. The energy found in "Golden State Romp" (CA) mirrors the vibrancy of the Bay Area, and the attractive views of rural California are heard throughout the movement.
Check out the facebook page: www.facebook.com/LincolnHighwaySuite
This work is endorsed by the Lincoln Highway Association
I. From the Hudson
II. Metals Heartland
III. Prairie View
IV. Traversing the Mountains
V. Golden State Romp
"From The Hudson"
"Metals Heartland"
"Prairie View"
"Traversing the Mountains"
"Golden State Romp"
Read their letter of support for this project: 
Visit their website (www.lincolnhighwayassoc.org) to learn more about the history of the LH.