Band Leading

I wrote The Nonantum Bulgar in response to a request for a klezmer-style piece for middle school band. Since my local middle school (F. A. Day) is located in close proximity to Nonantum the oldest area of Newton MA I decided to imagine the dedication of the Adams St. Shul our city's oldest synagogue which took place around a hundred years ago (December 15 1912). According to the Yiddish and English poster announcing the dedication the event featured the a prominent Boston cantor and choir and a klezmer orchestra leading a 'Grand March' down Adams St. The piece tries to re-create what the klezmer band might have played on that occasion. A Bulgar is a Romanian Jewish Dance thatwas very popular among Jewish immigrants at the beginning of the twentieth century. The trumpet solo that opens the piece is a typical rubato prelude with the trumpet playing 'cantorial-style' Jewish ornaments and phrasing in the manner of Eastern-European Jewish prayer leaders. Once the dance starts the piece is underscored with a Romanian Jewish 'Bulgaresca' rhythm heard in the trombone snare drum and tympani. The 'bulgar' section of the piece begins with a typical klezmer band orchestration of the time featuring solo clarinet (played with a somewhat nasal tone) trumpet (or even more ideally cornet) trombone saxophone tuba and percussion. The percussion section is prominently featured in the third strain. In the final round of the opening melody the band slows down in the manner of a Russian 'Grand March ' bringing the piece to a proud and majestic conclusion. --Hankus Netsky

A brass chorale opening leading into the famous finale that will delight and excite any crowd. Lots of percussion and strong outdoor scoring will lead to an exciting climax.

Steps Ahead is a new BandQuest work by Michael Gandolfi that takes young players on a journey! Along the way there are musical/compositional techniques that are intended to educate the performers about basic compositional techniques that areintended to educate the performers about basic compositional techniques. ?Steps Ahead is a delightful piece with something interesting for every instrument in the ensemble. Each of its three sections addresses a kind of compositional technique ?transposition tutti (a 2-part homophonic section) and developing tutti (parts of the band enter to build to a 2-part homophonic tutti). Less experienced players might enjoy the challenges of easy syncopation and musical lines constructed with largerintervals.? ?Tom Duffy series editor.BandQuest® 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. Visit www.bandquest.org to learnmore about this innovative series and email bandquest@composersforum.orgto request a free downloadable audio catalog.

Interruptions is a new shorter version of one of Bryant's earliest works Interruption Overture and is filled with quirky humor and musical mayhem! The music begins with a lively melody using familiar “comfortable” harmonies but is soon interrupted by abrupt dissonance. The music resumes its earlier character but these loud interruptions rudely reappear and the music begins to take abrupt turns through differenttonalities. The work finally settles into a four-on-the-floor groove as the opening melody and the interruptive material learn to coexist leading to a climactic conclusion. A thoroughly enjoyable work for young bands!

Les Marteaux de La Marine was composed in 1999 as a commission by the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The composition contains three static elements which interchange. Static in this case means that development of the material isnot pursued (by the composer). The first element with which the piece begins is tranquil and colourful. The second element is sharp and incisive while the third expresses energy. In all elements a repeated tone is the starting point whichexplains the hammers in the works title.The instrumentation is richly variegated with a harp also determining the palette of colours in the slower movements. The composition opens with an atmospheric Larghetto containing fine harmonies in thesoft and subtly moving wood-winds. The introduction breathes an impressionistic atmosphere in which expressive cantilenas and soloistic agile motifs stand out. A strong setting is followed by an Allegro virtuoso containing fast motifs contrasted withshort and rhythmic stars of the various instrumental sections. Trumpets and horns add a virtuoso bugle-call motif. After a short stringendosection the transparent Larghetto returns with a varied setting of the opening elements. The beautifulleading roles in this section are reserved for cornet (trumpet) and horn. Subsequently the flashing Vivo starts with continuous movements in triplets from both wood-winds and brass. Next the opening Allegro re-appears once again and thus LesMarteaux de la Marine ends with a fast and virtuoso climax. Les Marteaux de La Marine was selected as a compulsory grade 6 contest piece for symphonic bands in the Netherlands.

In this march with swing inflections the dominant element is the syncopated rhythm. Presented in the wind and percussion it gives the piece a balanced character. Shake Hands! opens with a powerful introduction leading to a presentation of the superb melody. A solo on the bass tonic forms the transition phase leading to a reprise of the initial theme bringing the work to a lively conclusion.

Comprehensive Band Method-The enhanced version of the world's leading instrumental method book Standard Of Excellence. This is a comprehensive band method in 3 parts which combines a strong performance-centred approach with music theory musichistory ear training listening composition improvisation and interdisciplinary and multicultural studies. With full colour drawings and colour-coding of important text the series helps to motivate and inform across the fullrange of band instruments. Enhanced CD features include 2 CDs of audio accompaniment recordings for all band exercises Interactive iPAS software for Windows or Mac takes students through the entire book andprovides numeric performance scores. Tuner and Metronome included with iPAS.

Comprehensive Band Method-The enhanced version of the world's leading instrumental method book Standard Of Excellence. This is a comprehensive band method in 3 parts which combines a strong performance-centred approach with music theory musichistory ear training listening composition improvisation and interdisciplinary and multicultural studies. With full colour drawings and colour-coding of important text the series helps to motivate and inform across the fullrange of band instruments. Enhanced CD features include 2 CDs of audio accompaniment recordings for all band exercises Interactive iPAS software for Windows or Mac takes students through the entire book andprovides numeric performance scores. Tuner and Metronome included with iPAS.

Comprehensive Band Method-The enhanced version of the world's leading instrumental method book Standard Of Excellence. This is a comprehensive band method in 3 parts which combines a strong performance-centred approach with music theory musichistory ear training listening composition improvisation and interdisciplinary and multicultural studies. With full colour drawings and colour-coding of important text the series helps to motivate and inform across the fullrange of band instruments. Enhanced CD features include 2 CDs of audio accompaniment recordings for all band exercises Interactive iPAS software for Windows or Mac takes students through the entire book andprovides numeric performance scores. Tuner and Metronome included with iPAS.

Comprehensive Band Method-The enhanced version of the world's leading instrumental method book Standard Of Excellence. This is a comprehensive band method in 3 parts which combines a strong performance-centred approach with music theory musichistory ear training listening composition improvisation and interdisciplinary and multicultural studies. With full colour drawings and colour-coding of important text the series helps to motivate and inform across the fullrange of band instruments. Enhanced CD features include 2 CDs of audio accompaniment recordings for all band exercises Interactive iPAS software for Windows or Mac takes students through the entire book andprovides numeric performance scores. Tuner and Metronome included with iPAS.

Comprehensive Band Method-The enhanced version of the world's leading instrumental method book Standard Of Excellence. This is a comprehensive band method in 3 parts which combines a strong performance-centred approach with music theory musichistory ear training listening composition improvisation and interdisciplinary and multicultural studies. With full colour drawings and colour-coding of important text the series helps to motivate and inform across the fullrange of band instruments. Enhanced CD features include 2 CDs of audio accompaniment recordings for all band exercises Interactive iPAS software for Windows or Mac takes students through the entire book andprovides numeric performance scores. Tuner and Metronome included with iPAS.

Comprehensive Band Method-The enhanced version of the world's leading instrumental method book Standard Of Excellence. This is a comprehensive band method in 3 parts which combines a strong performance-centred approach with music theory musichistory ear training listening composition improvisation and interdisciplinary and multicultural studies. With full colour drawings and colour-coding of important text the series helps to motivate and inform across the fullrange of band instruments. Enhanced CD features include 2 CDs of audio accompaniment recordings for all band exercises Interactive iPAS software for Windows or Mac takes students through the entire book andprovides numeric performance scores. Tuner and Metronome included with iPAS.

Following a successful appearance at a national competition a leading Japanese concert band commissioned the composition of this new work. The presentation of the main theme at the beginning of the piece along with its eventual development and variations in the middle section represents a very personal message for the band. It symbolises both the joy felt following the success at the competition and looks forward to further successes in the future. An inspiring work which celebrates the success of any band.

Calling for the band to be divided into four separate ensembles (and spread apart if space permits) Villages explores a wide range of harmonic and rhythmic interplay between each of these musical “villages.”The opening creates a dense canopy of sound out of which the unique identity of each group variously emerges then melts back into the texture. As the fast pace continues melodic fragments are bounced from group to group withinterjections from the percussion. A slower lyric section provides contrast before the frantic pace returns leading to the exciting conclusion. Innovative in its conception this stunning work will expose your students andaudience to dramatically new sounds for band! Dur: 8:15

Written as a memorial for a middle school band student this sensitive and moving work opens with a chorale played by off-stage brass. A flowing melody stated in the low register is then developed before leading to a brieffanfare-like affirmation. The Korean folk song ?You and I? is briefly quoted before returning to the off-stage brass and calm closing passage. A beautifully scored lyric piece for band. (Extra players are not requiredfor the off-stage parts.) Dur: 4:30