Concert band (Flute 1/Piccolo, Flute 2, Oboe 1/2, Bb Clarinet 1, Bb Clarinet 2, Bb Clarinet 3, Eb Alto Clarinet (optional), Bb Bass Clarinet, Bassoon 1/2, Alto Saxophone 1/2, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Bb Cornet 1, Bb Cornet 2, Bb Cornet 3, Bb Trumpet 1/2, Ho) - grade 4

SKU: CN.S11042

Composed by George Lloyd. Band Music. Score only. Duration 10:00. Published by G & M Brand Music Publishers (CN.S11042).

This symphonic sketch for concert band is packed full different motives thrown around the ensemble hinting at the programmatic leitmotifs of Wagner. Every section of the ensemble gets a workout in this delightful 10-minute work.

A Symphonic Sketch for Concert Band. The resurgence of interest in George Lloyd's music must give us faith that such talent will ultimately prevail against sometimes unhappy circumstances. Lloyd was Cornish and showed precocious gifts at an early age - he had completed his first symphony by the age of nineteen. During the 1930s he completed two operas, one of which - The Serf - was produced at Covent Garden in 1938. He was set for a glittering career as a composer. The Second World War intervened and he was invalidad out of the Navy in a shell-shocked state, and having written very little serious music since 1937 went to Switzerland to recuperate, looked after by his wife, Nancy. Painfully, he began writing again - symphonies Nos. 4 and 5 - and then returned to England. He needed to earn a living and he set up a mushroom farm in Dorset. But slowly he began to compose again and drafted more symphonies in short score. By this time he was virtually unknown - despite being considered the equal of Walton, Britten, and other young stars of English music some 30 years earlier. Lloyd decided to embark on a series of recordings of his symphonies, and slowly popular acclaim enabled him to regain his position. The Forest of Arden was written in 1987 as a result of a commission by the Solihull Youth Wind Band. Although Lloyd's music feels instinctively written one should not be misled - it is carefully crafted, but the craft and structure are always subordinated to create a flow with a strongly melodic content. Instead of two or three themes, The Forest of Arden contains an abundance of ideas which can be described in two groups. The first group contains the opening rhythmic motif, quickly developed into a short rising quaver passage in the woodwinds, and later then a chromatic ostinato bass - only 8 bars at this stage but later expanded. The second group is broad and expansive, initially based on intervals of rising fifths introduced by euphonium, tubas, and baritone saxophone, immediately echoed by horns. Low brass and winds expand the theme into rising sixths and octaves. There is a hint of development, bit this is arrested as the music moves to a piu tranquillo section introduced by the alto saxophone which further develops the rising sixth theme. There follows a true development of the opening material, starting with the ostinato bass and gradually passing through different tonal centers until the rising fifths of the second theme group are heralded - fortissimo and poco piu largamente shortly before the end. The structure is almost Wagnerian (albeit on a much smaller scale), with themes being used as leitmotifs, but this is music which, even within the space of ten minutes is conceived on a grand design.

By Frank Ticheli. Concert band. Suitable for advanced middle school, high school, community and college bands. Level: Grade 3. Conductor Full Score. Duration 6:30. Published by Manhattan Beach Music.

Band Concert Band - Grade 2

SKU: CF.YPS200F

Composed by Matthew R. Putnam. Young Band (YPS). Full score. With Standard notation. 16 pages. Carl Fischer Music #YPS200F. Published by Carl Fischer Music (CF.YPS200F).

ISBN 9781491152881. UPC: 680160910380.

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!

Band Concert Band - Grade 2

SKU: CF.YPS198F

Composed by Tyler Arcari. Young Band (YPS). Full score. With Standard notation. 16 pages. Carl Fischer Music #YPS198F. Published by Carl Fischer Music (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.

Grade 2

SKU: CL.011-4943-01

Composed by Webb. Young Concert Band. Extra full score. C.L. Barnhouse #011-4943-01. Published by C.L. Barnhouse (CL.011-4943-01).

We all know about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but have you ever wondered if the other reindeer are jealous of him? Well, one reindeer is, Dancer – and now he gets to have his own music! The happy jazz feel and cool swing beat present Up on the Housetop as you've never heard it before! Finger-snapping fun for the entire band. This will be the hit of your holiday concert!