At the Halloween Hop

PERFORMANCE NOTES*****At the Halloween Hop is intended for a 2nd year band. It is a novelty piece with a swing beat. The minor key will evoke the spooky feeling associated with Halloween. Clarinets are below the break. The range for all instruments is the octave from B-flat to B-flat. Accidentals include G-flat in melody parts and B natural as a harmony note for Oboe, Horn and Tenor Sax. Otherwise the range of notes will be quite familiar to 2nd year students. The swing 8th notes are always in pairs and placed in a manner which will make them quite easy to feel. The Suspended Cymbal (or Hi-Hat part) will be crucial to the swing feel. Having a capable percussion student will be crucial to a successful rendition. The director may wish to use a more advanced student to play the part. A suitable tempo will be determined by the director. The repeat at m. 49 is optional if endurance is a concern. Thank you for selecting this composition.I trust you and your students will find it instructive and enjoyable.***** Sincerely, Joseph Compello About the Composer*****Joseph Compello was an instrumental music teacher in Maryland Public Schools for 31 years. After earning his undergraduate degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music and a Master's Degree from Towson University, Compello entered the teaching profession. From the very beginning of his 31 year career, he composed and arranged music to meet the specific skills of his students. In 1994, Andrew Balent, then editor of Carl Fischer's educational music division, began publishing many of Compello's classroom-tested compositions. His debut publication was a march for beginning band titled Cadets on Parade. In 1996 his best-seller Rock to the Max, Mr. Sax earned him a regular spot on the Carl Fischer writing staff. In 1999, Larry Clark continued to publish Compello's music while encouraging him to expand his writing style. Now retired from teaching with over 200 published works to his credit, Compello continues to draw on his extensive background in music education to compose new music for school bands and orchestras. His music for young players is now a model for college curricular study by music education students. A master's thesis by Abel Borg entitled "The resourceful and engaging compositions for beginning band by Joseph Compello" is available at York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Compello's journey from school teacher to internationally published composer was chronicled in the Baltimore Sun. His ASCAP award winning music is now performed worldwide in venues ranging from school concerts to Carnegie Hall. 2025 will mark Compello's 30th year as a contributor to Carl Fischer's catalogue of music for young bands.