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.YPS200

ISBN 9781491152201. UPC: 680160909704. Key: D minor.

Step right up, ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, step right up! See the exotic, the strange, and the magical at the Cirque de L’étrange, or “Circus of the Strange.” This piece evokes a bygone era when circuses and carnivals provided people from all walks of life a chance to see human and animal oddities. Cirque de L'étrange is an original concert march written in standard march form, but its sound is anything but standard. This piece is playable by younger groups and is a great way to expose students to the march form and style without sounding like your typical march.
Step right up ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, step right up! See the exotic, the strange, and the magical at the Cirque de L’étrange. Welcome to the Cirque de L’étrange, known in English as the “Circus of the Strange.” This piece evokes a time of a bygone era, a time when circuses and carnivals provided people from all walks of life a chance to see human and animal oddities that were sources of both delight and horror. While many of these sideshow attractions were deemed fraudulent, it did not deter the crowds from flocking to be shocked and awed. I have always held a special place in my heart for the showmanship of carnivals, because my grandfather dearly loved them. For much of his life, he worked at fairs and carnivals selling cotton candy and candy apples. A large portion of my days when growing up were spent running around fairgrounds and helping my grandfather with his stand. He imparted in me a love for the cunning, magic, and sheer joy that only carnivals and circuses can bring. In Cirque de L’étrange, I sought to capture the the mirthful, yet uncanny mood of the carnivals that I grew up exploring, thus transporting you to a different time.Cirque de L'étrange is an original concert march written in standard march form, but its sound is anything but standard. This piece is playable by younger groups, as it is a great way to expose students to the march form and style while not sounding like your typical march.Opening in D minor, the piece combines the playful feel of a march and a macabre tango. The second time through the First Strain (mm. 5-23), the upper woodwinds and bells add a second counter melody based in D harmonic minor, which heightens the peculiar nature of the piece. The Second Strain (mm. 24-43) by contrast, is a little more upbeat, thus evoking the magical ebullience of a circus, which is further highlighted by the xylophone part. The Second Strain ends in the key of F major and sets up the transition to the Trio in the key of G minor. The Trio (m. 44) begins with the G harmonic minor melody in the clarinets and a counter melody in the bassoon and tenor saxophone. The rest of the woodwinds and bells join in at m. 60 while the percussion adds a Gypsy-like feel with tambourine and triangle. At m. 76 the full band joins in the macabre parade with the trombones and baritones harmonizing the counter melody. The conclusion of the march has the upper woodwinds, adding a second counter melody complete with trills to bring the march to an exciting and dramatic finish.As the World’s Greatest Showman, P.T. Barnum, a man my grandfather greatly admired, once said “The noblest art is that of making others happy.” It is my hope that through this piece you will experience the thrill, delight, and fright that only carnivals can bring as you visit the Circus of the Strange!

SKU: CF.FPS151F

ISBN 9781491152799. UPC: 680160910298.

Everyone remembers the first time that they saw a snake. Though fascinating to some and terrifying to others, few animals are as universally mesmerizing. Composer Tyler Arcari has crafted a very fun piece making use of auxiliary percussion instruments to emulate a snake's hiss or ominous rattle. With very strong and interesting melodic material, and scored to make a developing band sound great, this piece is sure to be a favorite among students.
Everyone remembers the first time that they saw a snake. The majority of people have a base fear of them, while others have a “heebie-jeebies” experience. We all know how the great explorer Dr. Indiana Jones felt about snakes, especially when he famously fell into a snake pit during Raiders of the Lost Ark. However you feel about snakes, a pit of them certainly sounds like an adventure.About the work:Snake Pit uses a lot of auxiliary percussion instruments. Some of these sounds are intended to subtly mimic the sounds that snakes make. The maraca in m. 4, of course, is a rattler’s call! The Chinese cymbal is intended to sound like the “hiss” of a not-so-friendly serpent. The eighth-note pattern at m. 9 is used throughout as a “creepy” effect using dynamic contrast so take care to emphasize this when present.I enjoy the gong as a “color” instrument in the band. I try to balance it with the low brass. Take care that at m. 42 the gong is not “front-and center” but more of a support for the nice accented chords in the low brass. Also, the trumpets can become spaced too much here. The accents are more for emphasis and less space.

SKU: CF.YPS198F

ISBN 9781491152867. UPC: 680160910366.

All the While was inspired by a very special person in Tyler Arcari's life. Director's will be happy to find many opportunities for emotional and passionate playing with plenty of fun in the middle for young bands.  All the While gives students a number of chances to work on expressive playing during the beginning and ending sections, and offers a light rhythmic middle section for contrast.
Program Notes:All the While is a bit of a personal piece for me. I was inspired to write it by a very special person in my life. It might be a young-band piece but I feel that it has the capacity for great emotion and passionate playing as well as a little fun in the middle. Sometimes it is difficult to tell people how you feel, even if you have known them for a long time. I think sometimes we say in our heads that “I have felt this way for a long time,” and all the while never being able to put it to words.About the work:The piece opens with a flute and alto saxophone duet. This melody trades off at m. 10 with the addition of new voices and harmonies building in intensity all the way to m. 28. I personally like to use extended phrases in this section, though it looks like it would just utilize four-measure phrases. I feel this adds to the momentum building in dynamic intensity. Measure 28 is a subito change beginning with a prominent Timpani solo. The following section should be played as lightly as possible to avoid a lumbering feel. In mm. 68- 70, the agogic accents should not be very heavy, but more pointed in their momentum to m. 70.Measures 70–76 should be taken with metric liberty bringing out all of the moving parts in the low brass. The low brass really adds the foundation of momentum for the rest of the band here. Measure 76 to the end, though a repetition of material from the beginning, should be played as the high point of the piece and familiar conclusion.

SKU: BT.EMBZ13147

9x12 inches.

Frigyes Hidas (1928-2007) was the most prolific Hungarian composer for wind ensembles, and his works are the most often performed. His extremely popular folk song suites are the finest examples of Hidas's mature style. Few composers are capable of tackling folk song arrangement in a worthy manner. Bartók himself had the following to say about the challenges with which this genre confronted the 20th-century composer: 'Knowing how to deal with folk melodies is one of the most difficult tasks. I venture to claim that it is as difficult as, if not more difficult than, writing a large-scale original work This much is certain: for folk song arrangement the appropriateinspiration is just as essential as for the writing of any other kind of work.' The second suite with its recurrent structure makes use of five folk songs in a modern harmonic environment that highlights even more the beauty of the melodies. (Hungaroton HCD 31612).

SKU: BT.EMBZ13145

9x12 inches.

Frigyes Hidas was the most prolific Hungarian composer for wind ensembles and his works are the most often performed. His extremely popular folk song suites are the finest examples of Hidas's mature style.Few composers are capable of tackling folk song arrangement in a worthy manner. Bartók himself had the following to say about the challenges with which this genre confronted the 20th-century composer: 'Knowing how to deal with folk melodies is one of the most difficult tasks. I venture to claim that it is as difficult as, if not more dif- ficult than, writing a large-scale original work This much is certain: for folk song arrangement the appropriate inspiration is just asessential as for the writing of any other kind of work.'The first suite works up nine folk songs of differing character and atmosphere. To perform them a brilliant technique is required, and an ability to shape the music freely. (Hungaroton HCD 31612).

SKU: CL.012-4705-01

Marking the centennial of World War I, also known as The Great War, this medley highlights seven songs popular during this era: It’s A Long Way To Tipperary, Good Morning, Mr. Zip-Zip-Zip, Roses Of Picardy, How Ya Gonna Keep ‘Em Down On The Farm? Keep The Home Fires Burning, Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag, and Over There! Perfect for Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, or any concert situation, and especially well-suited for adult community bands. First class!