SKU: CF.YPS207F

ISBN 9781491152959. UPC: 680160910458.

Factory Child is a protest song against child sweatshops. The piece depicts the factory life of children laboring many hours a day and manufacturing the shoes and clothes that end up in American retail stores. Young performers will find this thought-provoking piece an excellent way to use their musical voice to affect change.
Factory Child is a protest song against child sweatshops. Written in memory of Mrs. Peterson, who loved children dearly, the piece depicts the factory life of children laboring 16+ hours a day, manufacturing the shoes and clothes that end up in American retail stores.Factory Child begins with factory sounds and an oppressive, repetitive pattern that supports the melody carried by the upper voices. The second section is composed of wistful, dream-like sounds and melodies that have traces of children’s songs that remind us that these children forced into labor would love to have the opportunity to play, attend school, and dream, but cannot and realistically have little hope for a life we consider normal.  The middle section gives way to more sounds from the factory. The climax is a raucous circus-like waltz using themes from both sections.The percussion parts can be covered by six players. Some players will need to cover two parts. Use someone from the wind section if you do not have six, as some of the parts, although important, are not very difficult. The second clarinet never goes over the break and the bass line is usually doubled in the euphonium as well as in the low reeds.This piece is an excellent way for young performers to use their musical voice to affect change. It is a great discussion starter for researching where our apparel comes from and why to stay away from some brands. It can also make students aware of the fantastic opportunity they have to attend school that children in other parts of the world do not. Young students will find this piece very thought provoking.Ed Kiefer .

SKU: CF.YPS204F

ISBN 9781491152928. UPC: 680160910427.

Avalon–Long Live the King is a medieval fantasy piece depicting the Isle of Avalon where the mystical sword Excalibur of King Arthur was forged. Composer Tyler Arcari unearths a solid piece for young bands that is both bold and dramatic. This piece is sure to spark the imagination of students and give them strong musical content with which they can develop their musicianship.
Program Notes:Avalon–Long live the King began its journey as a commission in honor of a dear friend and mentor. David Riggs is one of those band directors that just seems timeless. He is a powerhouse with such a stacked resume that it is easy to forget that at the end of the day he enjoys taking long bike rides with his lovely wife and whittling a piece of wood just as much as being a band director. He has touched so many lives and inspired so many people in our field and beyond. I was humbled, and honored, when I was contacted for the commission. To David, I hope that you one day know how much you mean to so many people, including myself.About the piece:The piece is written with a little homage to David’s long tenure at Avalon Middle school in Pace, Florida. He was certainly treated like a king as the band director and rightly so. It seemed only fitting to add a little medieval fantasy. Avalon is a mystical island in the world of King Arthur where the great sword Excalibur was forged.The piece begins lyrically with a slow introduction with melodic material. This melodic motive is used throughout with slight variations depending on the instrument voicing etc. Care should be taken at m. 10 that the Timpani roll helps to bridge our transition from an exposed section to full tutti. Care should be taken so that the tempo change at m. 19 is brisk and avoids the low brass turning into stomping. Accessories like the China cymbal and tambourine can become overpowering. I recommend having students think of these effects as background in order to make sure they don’t POP out. The dynamic changes at mm. 27-35 should be subito similar to orchestral dynamic changes. Avoid unwritten crescendos in this section. Measures 60–64 are a great opportunity to teach those unwritten dynamics that make music so enjoyable as we lead up to the finale. It was originally left blank for some theatrics in the premiere at David’s retirement concert so I know he would enjoy adding some Cholesterol as David would say.Long Live the King!

SKU: CF.CPS17

ISBN 9780825843686. UPC: 798408043681. 9 X 12 inches. Key: F major.

Music from Bizet's immortal opera gets the Balent treatment in this sparkling arrangement of three excerpts from the Carmen Suite No. 1. Leading off with the bustling Les Toreadors from the Overture, Mr. Balent has also included the seductive Habanera (featuring Clarinets on the tune) and the swaggering Toreador Song with a solo Trumpet on the famous melody. This is music everyone knows and loves in a first-rate arrangement for medium level band. Duration: 4' 20.

SKU: CF.CPS243

ISBN 9781491158500. UPC: 680160917105. 9 x 12 inches.

This setting of The First Noel begins with a percussion intro and dissonant chords that lead to a beautiful flute duet. The melody is freely adapted and at times, outright changed, to give this arrangement a very different sound. Using rhythmic motives, tone clusters, altered melodies and all the sounds available for a concert band, the piece takes the audience on a journey that leads to a statement of the original tune at m. 118. Everyone gets the melody at some point. After a chorale-like section, the composition returns to the fast and upbeat sounds of the beginning. Your musicians and audience will love this unique version of this old-time favorite. When performing this piece, start dark and mysterious and let the sounds crescendo through the introduction all the way to m. 21, the first statement of the hymn. Make sure you keep the tempo moving so the arrangement does not lose excitement. Keep the flute duet, and later the trumpet duet, nice and light. At m. 118, play a little slower and in a standard chorale style, being careful to let the flute and oboe voices be heard. Let the low voices have the reins at m. 126 as they play the melody. Pick the tempo back up to the original tempo at m. 145 and push to the end. The main thing is to match articulation throughout the band--at the beginning and at the end, think light accents and separation, and at the chorale section at m. 118, more legato. Keeping everyone on the same page with articulation will be the key to making a great performance.
This setting of The First Noel begins with a percussion intro and dissonant chords that lead to a beautiful flute duet. The melody is freely adapted and at times, outright changed, to give this arrangement a very different sound. Using rhythmic motives, tone clusters, altered melodies and all the sounds available for a concert band, the piece takes the audience on a journey that leads to a statement of the original tune at m. 118. Everyone gets the melody at some point. After a chorale-like section, the composition returns to the fast and upbeat sounds of the beginning. Your musicians and audience will love this unique version of this old-time favorite.When performing this piece, start dark and mysterious and let the sounds crescendo through the introduction all the way to m. 21, the first statement of the hymn. Make sure you keep the tempo moving so the arrangement does not lose excitement. Keep the flute duet, and later the trumpet duet,nice and light. At m. 118, play a little slower and in a standard chorale style, being careful to let the flute and oboe voices be heard. Let the low voices have the reins at m. 126 as they play the melody. Pick the tempo back up to the original tempo at m. 145 and push to the end. The main thing is to matcharticulation throughout the band--at the beginning and at the end, think light accents and separation, and at the chorale section at m. 118, more legato. Keeping everyone on the same page with articulation will be the key to making a great performance.