Concert and Contest Band Music

When the moon appears orange or yellow, it simply means that the observer is looking at it through more layers of the atmosphere. This lyrical composition set in the easily accomplishable key of concert B

Performable by as few as five winds and four percussion, this beginning band composition depicts a lone warrior beginning a journey across an ancient land. This solitary warrior is joined by others on the

Starting aggressively with a simple melody and active percussion, this piece about the adventure of walking through a scary forested valley lets you introduce programmatic music to your students in a fun

Take your beginning band to a tropical island! Using simple patterns based on Carribean rhythms, this is an excellent lighter selection for your spring concerts. Low instruments are featured in the middle

During the winter, large storms occur from time to time. These storms can be dangerous and beautiful at the same time. This piece starts off fast, dark, and furious, then moves into a lighter mood during

This beginning band composition, inspired by the composer's son's fascination with lizards, uses at most eight notes in each instrument's range and is designed for use at the end of the first year of

Getting to the heart of having to leave one's home to seek a better life, this mid-19th-century Irish song is given an authentic yet unique treatment in a setting for younger bands. Starting with a lilting

This traditional Shaker song is presented with modern harmonies, rhythms, and instrumentation. Using ostinato patterns, long legato lines, and interesting percussion parts, this is a great choice for a

Designed to reflect the medieval origins of this 12th-century hymn, this beautiful setting offers great opportunities to develop unision phrasing of long melodic lines. With the melody set in both a four

A fledgling is a young bird that has developed muscles and feathers sufficient for flight. Musically depicting this time by taking a simple theme and developing it through increasing energy, excitement, and

The word "synergize" means to combine or coordinate the activity of two or more agents to produce a joint effort that is greater than the sum of their individual effects. Written to portray this idea, and

Named for the opening motive, which quickly ascends like the rising sun, this march playable at the end of the first year, offers several teaching moments. Use this composition to work on independent parts

Dedicated to all soldiers past and present, this beginning band work uses only the first six notes of the concert B-flat scale. Beginning boldly with separated notes in the low brass and winds, the higher

Representing the hope that we can all live with peaceful thoughts, this expressive ballad lets younger ensembles work on the essential skills of legato style, listening across the ensemble, and developing

Suitable for performance at the end of the first year of instruction, this Latin-dance-flavored composition is an excellent study in independent playing for young bands. With steady percussion, bass

Scrimshaw is the craft of whalebone and ivory carving. Inspired by the composer's stay in Barrow, Alaska, the composition depicts the days of Alaskan fishing and whaling crews. Starting broadly and

This hauntingly beautiful composition featuring beautiful original and traditional melodies with lush harmonic construction lets performers experience and learn about expressive playing in minor keys. With

The rigaudon is a French Baroque dance with a lively duple meter. Rhythmically simple, with a few syncopated lines, this less-than-two-minute composition is the perfect introduction to this style. With

This suite of three short movements depicts Popocatepetl, a volcano near Mexico City. Useful for developing understanding of these forms, the suite includes an overture, a ballad, and a Latin-style closing.

Quirky, fun, and fresh, this dancelike composition was inspired by the pelicans observed on the composer's way to work. The opening motif, played by the entire ensemble in the first measure, is fundamental

Written to portray the mountains along the North and South Carolina border, this light allegro overture is written in ABA form. With many dynamic contrasts, articulations to accomplish, and short soloistic

This lyrical ballad in ABA form musically depicts the desire to return home. Presenting few rhythmic challenges, the ensemble can concentrate on the beauty of sound, balance, dynamics, phrasing, and

Written to portray the purest expression of feelings, this composition starts with a short trumpet solo followed by upper-wind melodic echoes. Written for more advanced bands with limited instrumentation,

Inspired by a trip to Rome and based on Italian folk songs, Tchaikovsky composed his Capriccio Italien in 1880. This fantasy utilizes the capriccio's themes to capture the essence of Tchaikovsky's