SKU: CF.FPS150

ISBN 9781491152102. UPC: 680160909605.

The title is a play on words, but the composer had his own ulterior motives in mind when composing this piece. He wanted a piece that was fun to play, but that helped developing musicians work on their rhythmic skills. Matt Putnam uses the feel of action film soundtracks to create the mood of this interesting new piece. Interesting grooves in the percussion throughout add to the piece’s feel of mystery and thrill.
To understand my thoughts in writing this piece, I thought it best to define the two ideas that give the piece its title: ulterior motives and musical motifs. Ulterior motives occur when you believe that a person is doing something for some unknown or hidden reason. Often, they are used in action films or literature to increase the drama and tension of the story. Musically, a motif is a short rhythmic and/or melodic idea. When I wrote this piece, I must confess that I had my own ulterior motives: I wanted to create a piece that was fun to play, but I also wanted a piece that would help students develop their rhythmic counting skills. In this piece, I use a motif of a two eighth-note pattern which jumps from section to section to help me achieve my ulterior motive.Mimicking the mood of action films whose characters often have ulterior motives, the mood of the piece is suspenseful and exciting as the motif jumps from section to section throughout the ensemble. The motif keeps you guessing as it occurs on all four different beats of the measure sometimes ascending, sometimes descending, and occurs sometimes in the interval of a second and sometimes the interval of a third. Interesting grooves in the percussion throughout add to the piece’s feel of mystery and thrill.I have no ulterior motives when I say that I hope you enjoy playing Ulterior Motifs.

SKU: HL.4006602

UPC: 840126919172. 11.0x17.0x0.049 inches.

Scalin' and Wailin' is a flexible, fun piece written with a differentiated instruction model. Three different difficulty levels meet students where they're at in their development and allows space for each to grow. This piece is also ideal for educators and conductors looking for side by side programming - younger ensembles can all play within the easiest group and more advanced ensembles can play within the more difficult groups, all fitting together in one energetic piece. Celebrate BandQuest's 20th anniversary with this special release, and find what works for your ensemble! BandQuest(r), an exciting series of new music and accompanying curricula for band, is a program published by the American Composers Forum. The series was started as a response to feedback from music educators that there is a pressing need for new, fresh band music. The heart of this program is new works written by a diverse group of leading American composers who have created challenging pieces that are a true departure from standard middle school repertoire. Every BandQuest project includes a residency component in which the composer works collaboratively with a middle school as they create their new piece. Many BandQuest pieces are accompanied by an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to assist students as they learn the music and to integrate each piece with non-music studies. Visit www.bandquest.org to learn more about this innovative series, and email bandquest@composersforum.org to request a free downloadable audio catalog.

SKU: CF.BPS115F

ISBN 9781491152690. UPC: 680160910199.

The Gauntlet is a piece written to sound bold and exciting while also being accessible to young performers with a limited range. Simple yet bold rhythms add excitement, heightened by the fact that every section has an opportunity to play melodic content. The interesting “development” section provides a contrast to the opening and helps to build the suspense before the return of the main theme. The percussion helps to drive the energy of the piece by providing a variety of colorful sounds including a gong solo at the end to signal the knight’s triumph.
A knight gallops over the rise of the hill into battle, determination shining in his eyes. He must charge through the treacherous lines and survive in order to preserve his kingdom and his honor. The pounding of the battle drums echoes the desperate pounding of his heart. Swords clash and the hooves of the horses strike the muddy ground. He must run this torturous gauntlet. Will he succeed before it is too late?The Gauntlet is a piece written to sound bold and exciting while also being easy for young players to perform due to the piece’s limited range (comprised of the first seven notes in most method books). Simple but bold rhythms add an air of excitement. This is heightened by the fact that every section has an opportunity to play melodic content, even the low brass. The interesting “development” section provides a contrast to the opening section and helps to build some intrigue and suspense before the return of the main theme. The percussion helps to drive the energy of the piece by providing lots of colorful sounds including a gong solo at the end to signal the knight’s triumph.

SKU: CF.FPS148F

ISBN 9781491148020. UPC: 680160905522. 9 x 12 inches.

Invictus Rex is the Latin phrase for an invincible or undefeatable king. It calls to mind a paragon of strength, boldness, and confidence in the face of challenges and adversity. Audiences will imagine a medieval king attired in heavy armor confidently leading his men into battle, assured in the idea that, though the battle is to be long and arduous, they will ultimately reign victorious. New composer Matthew Putnam draws on his experience as a music educator to provide us with this piece that students will absolutely love to play.