Nimrod
This stunning arrangement of Elgar's well-known ninth variation from the Enigma Variations has been expertly scored by Brant Karrick for the intermediate level. It retains all of the emotion and integrity of the original while keeping the instruments in their most comfortable and sweet-sounding registers. (2:15)
Songs of the British Isles
Based on the folk songs Down by the Salley Gardens" and "I Know Where I'm Going," Songs of the British Isles, by Patrick Roszell, is a lush and lyrical setting that is perfect for teaching lyrical playing to your younger players. This setting provides numerous teaching opportunities for slurring, legato bowing, phrasing, intonation, and dynamic shaping. A welcome addition to your program."
Honor the Brave
Honor the Brave, by Victor L籀pez, is an original composition dedicated to all veterans who have served honorably on active duty in the Armed Forces. It celebrates those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice and who have courageously played an essential role in shaping our country and ensuring the freedom that we enjoy. (1:35)
Spiders!
Spiders have taken over the house! Tiptoe across the floor (pizzicato) so that you don't disturb the skittering spiders (collegno). But watch out for that big one descending from the ceiling (glissando)! Spiders!, by Christopher Alan Schmitz, will provide a frightening touch to your fall concert. (2:30)
The Gates of Janus
Explore the duality of music with The Gates of Janus, by Richard Meyer, which was inspired by Janus, the Greek god of opposites. Featuring contrasting melodies---one slow and soft, the other fast and loud---students will uncover six musical opposites and enhance their skills and expressive performance. Perfect for sparking discussions on how music conveys emotions. (3:20)
Irish Fantasy
Irish Fantasy draws inspiration from an Irish folk melody (The Road to Lisdoonvarna"), which Davide Pedrazzini freely transforms and elaborates. The result is a fantasy that is very characteristic and surprising, just as the landscapes of Ireland are surprising. The majestic opening theme, which brings the Dorian mode to your ear, is common in Celtic music. Performers will also experience rich counterpoint that includes a fugue section where all the instruments chase each other. A final accelerando will lead to a recapitulation of the majestic opening. The composer created this piece while recalling his holiday in Ireland. Let yourself be carried away on this surprising journey!"
Hisaishi: Studio Ghibli Recital Repertoire for Advanced Piano Duet 4-Hand
Honor the Brave
Honor the Brave, by Victor L籀pez, is an original composition dedicated to all veterans who have served honorably on active duty in the Armed Forces. It celebrates those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice and who have courageously played an essential role in shaping our country and ensuring the freedom that we enjoy. (1:35)
Songs of the British Isles
Based on the folk songs Down by the Salley Gardens" and "I Know Where I'm Going," Songs of the British Isles, by Patrick Roszell, is a lush and lyrical setting that is perfect for teaching lyrical playing to your younger players. This setting provides numerous teaching opportunities for slurring, legato bowing, phrasing, intonation, and dynamic shaping. A welcome addition to your program. (2:40)"
String Quartet in F Major, Op. 18/1
A group of resourceful kids start "solution-seekers.com," a website where "cybervisitors" can get answers to questions that trouble them. But when one questioner asks the true meaning of Christmas, the kids seek to unravel the mystery by journeying back through the prophecies of the Old Testament. What they find is a series of "S" words that reveal a "spectacular story!" With creative characters, humorous dialogue and great music, The "S" Files is a children's Christmas musical your kids will love performing.
La Serpiente
Open your next concert with this energetic Spanish-flavored piece from composer Michael Story. Featuring bold melodies and colorful harmonies, La Serpiente (The Snake) will evoke images of Flamenco dancers and bullfights. With a variety of instrumental colors and dynamic contrasts, the piece will also serve as a worthy introduction to the Spanish Phrygian scale. (1:30)
Knights of the Realm
Knights of the Realm, by Scott Watson, harkens back to the days of castles, dragons, courage, and valor, when protectors of the kingdom in suits of armor embarked on noble quests. The music's captivating melody and strong rhythms pay homage to these knights of old, whose heroic deeds have been immortalized in legend. Written carefully to the abilities of beginning band students, Knights of the Realm transports musicians and audience to an enchanted time of medieval lore when bravery and chivalry reigned supreme! (1:50)
Groovy Tuesday
Groovy Tuesday, by Robert Sheldon, is a rock piece that features a catchy bass line riff that your low brass and low woodwind players will be revisiting long after each rehearsal and performance. The melody is written in a current pop-music style that will have the players and audience tapping their feet. This very playable composition is perfect for younger players on any concert, even those NOT held on a Tuesday! (1:30) Correlates to Sound Innovations, Book 1, Level 3.
Honor the Brave
Honor the Brave, by Victor L籀pez, is an original composition dedicated to all veterans who have served honorably on active duty in the Armed Forces. It celebrates those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice and who have courageously played an essential role in shaping our country and ensuring the freedom that we enjoy. (1:50)
An American Celebration
Combining Taps," "America (My Country 'Tis of Thee)," and "America, the Beautiful," An American Celebration, by Patrick Roszell, is a wonderful and cinematically scored tribute to our beloved country. A welcome addition to your Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, Fourth of July, or spring concert program. (2:55)"
Heavy Hitters
Heavy Hitters, by Chris M. Bernotas, is a spectacular low winds and low brass feature that is sure to become a staple in beginning band literature. This very appreciated section of the band is featured throughout, and the rest of the band has fun and engaging parts as well. Driven by a rock beat, great opportunities for teaching rhythm, phrasing, dynamics, and even call and response are included. Perfect for recruiting and highlighting the lows! (1:50) Correlates to Sound Innovations Book 1, Level 3.
Climbing Quandary
Climbing Quandary, by Robert Sheldon, is meant to elicit the feelings one might have while spending the day hiking in the Rocky Mountains. One of the most popular hikes is a climb up to Quandary Peak in Colorado. This mountain was so named because of the mineral outcroppings that confused the prospectors while searching for silver in the 1860s. While being one of the 58 14-ers in Colorado (mountain peaks above 14,000 feet in elevation), it is cited as being one of the easier climbs and is consequently very popular. This would be a great time to enlist your art department to have students display pictures of their mountain artwork or to project images of Quandary Peak, many of which can be found online and royalty-free, during the performance. (1:50) Correlates to Sound Innovations, Book 2, Level 2.
Gotham Nights
Gotham Nights, by Scott Watson, paints a vivid musical portrait of a metropolis shrouded in darkness, where danger lurks in every alleyway. Opening with a menacing fanfare, the music exudes a sense of urgency and foreboding. Ominous melodies and brooding harmonies, evoking an atmosphere of suspense and tension, take listeners on a sonic journey through the sinister streets of Gotham City at night. Amidst the darkness, justice and triumph emerge! A fearless hero patrols in the shadows, thwarting villains wherever they emerge. (2:05) Correlates to Sound Innovations, Book 1, Level 5.
Christmas in R穩o
Written in a bossa nova style, Christmas in Rio, by Victor L籀pez, features a smooth alto sax solo, with optional trumpet cues. Perfect for young bands, it offers a fresh and engaging way to blend holiday tradition with the vibrant sounds of Brazil. (1:50)
The Christmas Waltz
A beloved classic of the holiday mix, Douglas E. Wagner's easy-to-play arrangement of The Christmas Waltz is perfect for ringing in the holiday season. The highly successful songwriting team of Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn brought this wonderful music to life, and now it is ready to share with your youngest musicians. Sure to inspire plenty of cheer!
The 31st Day of Oktober
Capture the imagination of your young musicians with this scary musical escapade, The 31st Day of Oktober, by Rob Grice. Well within the abilities of beginning musicians, this dark comical work brings images of Halloween to life! Your students will ask to play this year-round. It's that much fun. Halloween originated 2000 years ago with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (Sow-in), when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. This imaginative and scary selection is written to bring out the best in younger music students and will impress the audience with their mature sound. A sure thing for your fall concert. (2:20)
Toreador Tango!
Experience the ol矇" moments of Toreador Tango!, a fiery piece for young concert bands by Nathan Farrell that captures the heart of a Spanish bullfight. This caliente composition dances with dynamic melodies and rhythms, featuring a brief but bold trumpet solo that takes center stage like a true matador. With iconic strains of "Espa簽a Ca簽穩" woven in, Toreador Tango! brings the drama and passion of the arena to life, making your audience shout "bravo!" (1:50)"
Recharge
Recharge, by Adrian B. Sims, begins with an initial burst of energy that charges back up over time. After a short, softer section, brass fanfares and intense rhythms bring us to ultimate intensity, where the music concludes with one final swell to the end. (1:45)
The Raven
Edgar Allan Poe's most famous poem is the basis for this original piece by Michael Story. Written for students at the end of their first year in band, The Raven, with its haunting melody and colorful scoring, evokes the sense of sadness and loss that pervades Poe's timeless work. This unique piece would be a welcome addition to any beginning band library. (1:50)
Red River Valley
Bring the drama and drive of the Wild West to your beginning band students with this new setting of Red River Valley, by Michael Kamuf, of this great folk song. Rich harmonies, driving syncopated rhythms, and varying textures make this the perfect opening or closing selection for your next performance! (1:45)
Trolls
In Norse mythology, trolls were creatures that lived in the forests, mountains, or caves, away from human settlements. They were seen as antagonistic towards humans, brutish-looking, and were to be avoided. Various folk legends claimed they were as big as giants or as small as gnomes and had shapeshifting abilities. No doubt, many curious people must have ventured out to see a troll for themselves. Trolls, by Todd Stalter, vividly explores sneaking around in dark and unfamiliar places, a sense of confident adventure, and---quite possibly---the surprise of spotting a troll! This will come together very well in rehearsal and with its unique sound, will intrigue your students. (2:00)
Echoes of Iron
Echoes of Iron, by Jordan Sterk, utilizes the first six notes of the B-flat concert scale for all instruments, plus a seventh note for the saxophones and French horn. Students will love the bold and powerful nature as well as the industrial sounds of the piece. Echoes of Iron is an excellent vehicle to teach and reinforce eighth-note rhythms, dynamics, and articulation. There are plentiful opportunities to create dynamic contrast, and each section of the band gets a chance to shine through with melody, including the percussion section with a brief soli. Perfect for one of your students' first concerts! (1:20)
A Castle in the Woods
In the days of castles and kings, one would find a castle tucked away in the woods, maybe not even known to anyone outside the area. In the Middle Ages, communication and travel were limited. Many people never traveled more than a few miles from home. A Castle in the Woods, by Randy Navarre, is an ideal composition for students to perform on their first concert. It is easy and sounds great. The notes are in the first few pitches of the diatonic scale, and the chords of that scale are played with no accidentals. Your young musicians will be proud to perform this! (2:20)
Escapade!
Escapade!, by Raymond Sifuentes, sets the scene for a classic spy thriller. Our favorite secret agent protagonist finds himself embarking on his biggest mission yet! The job is simple: get in, collect the intel, and escape without being caught. Characterized by a central theme that accompanies our main character, humorous chromatic motifs symbolic of his blunders, and alarm sounds representing triggered booby traps, Escapade! provides clear story-telling opportunities and teachable moments, including chromatics and enharmonic spellings. Will our protagonist successfully complete his mission? Or will the enemy bodyguards get to him first?
Colossus
Drama and excitement: right from the start, Colossus, by Brian Beck, paints a scene of gladiators preparing and entering the ring for battle. Fanfares alert the masses when a new challenger is arriving, while other, more lyrical themes serve as processionals for warriors to enter. Though for young band, challenges are present with dynamic changes, rhythmic intensity, and some independent playing. Well worth the effort! Colossus was commissioned by and dedicated to the Louisiana Music Education Association District IV Honor Band for their performance in 2025. (3:00) Correlates to Sound Innovations, Book 2, Level 3.
Balatro
Winner of the 2024 NBA Young Band Composition Contest, Balatro, by Minoo Dixon, is a bold and eccentric work that invites students and listeners into the mind of a balatro" -- the Latin word for joker. This imaginative piece introduces young musicians to the intriguing octatonic scale in a way that's both thoughtful and accessible, providing a fast-paced, captivating journey through fluid tonal shifts. Despite its tonal playfulness, the piece remains anchored to the familiar comfort of concert Bb, offering an ideal blend of exploration and stability. Balatro is a fresh, innovative addition to the concert band repertoire -- one that's sure to surprise and delight all."
Castle Bartizan
Travel back in time to the Middle Ages with this intensely energetic work, Castle Bartizan, by Sarah Siegler. The bartizan" is a turret of a castle, built along the defensive wall, containing the castle guard. The stonework could be quite ornate while the function was to protect the guard from invaders. The accented minor melody describes the stonework and the importance of the guard standing "at the ready" in the castle bartizan. The lyrical, contrasting sections depict the beauty and timelessness of ancient castles. The percussion, utilizing low tom-tom and tambourine combined with modal harmonies, gives the piece a medieval flare that will keep your students engaged and excited about the power of making music together."
Dhyaana
This is the perfect piece to introduce students to some of the unique sounds and basic techniques of Indian music. Authentically written and musically engaging, it features a strong melody and deliberate rhythmic drive. Dhyaana is a Sanskrit word translated as contemplation or meditation. This is an aspect of Indian culture focused on cultivating serenity, focus, and self-awareness, often through music. Written in the Carnatic (South Indian) musical tradition, this piece, by Manjula Ramachandran and Cooper Ford, utilizes melodic patterns from the raaga Revathi as well as common rhythmic patterns often found in this style. Each part also includes some introductory gamakas---ornamentations that are a foundational part of this style---clearly marked with appropriate fingerings. (2:25)
The Lakes
Written in two distinct sections, The Lakes, by Robert Sheldon, opens with a lyrical theme reminiscent of many much-loved American hymns and gospel tunes. Important parts appear in all parts, but feature the bells, chimes, and euphonium. The second half of the piece is a British-style march, starting with a brief percussion interlude, and gradually adding wind instruments until the full band finishes the march with all the enthusiasm it can muster!
Echoes of Iron
Echoes of Iron, by Jordan Sterk, utilizes the first six notes of the B-flat concert scale for all instruments, plus a seventh note for the saxophones and French horn. Students will love the bold and powerful nature as well as the industrial sounds of the piece. Echoes of Iron is an excellent vehicle to teach and reinforce eighth-note rhythms, dynamics, and articulation. There are plentiful opportunities to create dynamic contrast, and each section of the band gets a chance to shine through with melody, including the percussion section with a brief soli. Perfect for one of your students' first concerts!
Honor the Brave
Honor the Brave, by Victor L籀pez, is an original composition dedicated to all veterans who have served honorably on active duty in the Armed Forces. It celebrates those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice and who have courageously played an essential role in shaping our country and ensuring the freedom that we enjoy. (1:50)
Climbing Quandary
Climbing Quandary, by Robert Sheldon, is meant to elicit the feelings one might have while spending the day hiking in the Rocky Mountains. One of the most popular hikes is a climb up to Quandary Peak in Colorado. This mountain was so named because of the mineral outcroppings that confused the prospectors while searching for silver in the 1860s. While being one of the 58 14-ers in Colorado (mountain peaks above 14,000 feet in elevation), it is cited as being one of the easier climbs and is consequently very popular. This would be a great time to enlist your art department to have students display pictures of their mountain artwork or to project images of Quandary Peak, many of which can be found online and royalty-free, during the performance. Correlates to Sound Innovations, Book 2, Level 2.
Ring Christmas Bells
Bells, carols, and joyfulness. Everything you need for the season. Celebrate with this fresh take on the Ukrainian Bell Carol," complete with a hint of "We Three Kings." Familiar yet new, this delightful arrangement will brighten any seasonal performance. (2:05)"
A Somerset Rhapsody
Written at the peak of the early 20th century period of intense folk music interest in Great Britain, A Somerset Rhapsody draws upon tunes collected by Cecil Sharp (to whom the work is dedicated) in his travels throughout that area of exceptional natural beauty in Southwest England. Holst chose three of these folk songs that are seamlessly presented in this arrangement: the pensive Sheep Shearing Song," the bold "High Germany," and the doleful "The True Lover's Farewell." Penned in 1906, A Somerset Rhapsody displays definite hints of the iconic First Suite in E-flat (1909) and Second Suite in F (1911) for military band soon to come. This arrangemment by Douglas E. Wagner, is an excellent way to introduce your students to the music of Holst."
Red River Valley
Bring the drama and drive of the Wild West to your beginning band students with this new setting of Red River Valley, by Michael Kamuf, of this great folk song. Rich harmonies, driving syncopated rhythms, and varying textures make this the perfect opening or closing selection for your next performance! (1:45)
La Serpiente
Open your next concert with this energetic Spanish-flavored piece from composer Michael Story. Featuring bold melodies and colorful harmonies, La Serpiente (The Snake) will evoke images of Flamenco dancers and bullfights. With a variety of instrumental colors and dynamic contrasts, the piece will also serve as a worthy introduction to the Spanish Phrygian scale. (1:30)
Snow Day!
Waking up on a cold winter day. Sledding. Hot Chocolate. It's a snow day! Written by Katie O'Hara LaBrie, Snow Day! is craftily designed using limited range and a jolly melody that outlines the B-flat major scale. This highly accessible piece, with its bright melodies and jingle bell accompaniment, will delight students and audiences alike. (2:15)
Falling Snow
Falling Snow, by Christopher Alan Schmitz, reveals the magic of a first winter snowfall! Lyrical melodies pass from high to low strings, giving everyone a chance to enjoy the themes and accompaniment. Light pizzicato moments contrast with full arco statements, and the middle section provides an exciting harmonic adventure. When the main theme returns, it features a canon that culminates in a powerful ending. Add the optional percussion parts for dramatic holiday flair!
Recharge
Recharge, by Adrian B. Sims, begins with an initial burst of energy that charges back up over time. After a short, softer section, brass fanfares and intense rhythms bring us to ultimate intensity, where the music concludes with one final swell to the end.
High Velocity
High Velocity, by Michael Story, is an exciting original work full of contemporary sounds. This A-B-A form piece will be an audience and student favorite with its high-energy melodic lines, lyrical contrast, and colorful harmonies. Solidly scored for your intermediate string orchestra, it would be an excellent choice for any concert or contest.
