Opener

“Prelude to Something Big” Anthony O’Toole 2015 (Grade 4) 3:16

https://youtu.be/zytfzi8XQwc

I picked this piece because it’s high energy and fun without sounding immature or too
flashy. It’s by an up-and-coming composer. It’s something the audience probably will not have
heard before. Every part is interesting so it will appeal to a high school-level ensemble. It sets the
tone for the rest of the lit I selected without being too similar. It shows off the ensemble’s skill
set. It’s bright like the Reed but not as light and features different sections in the ensemble on
different skills than the march and Mackey do.

Ballad
“Shenandoah” (Ticheli) Grade 3/4 (1999)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUKbPO5Nwm4

“Shenandoah” is a beautiful piece. It helps high school ensembles learn to and improve at
lyrical playing, a skill that can be transferred to the Reed as well as other pieces they will play.
It’s a ballade that appeals to younger ensembles and keeps every section engaged. The tempo is
much slower than the rest of the set and it has a different feeling than the lyrical section of the
Reed, adding further variety to the concert.

Others options:
Air for Band Frank Erickson
Irish Tune from County Derry (Grainger) Grade 4
The Seal Lullaby (Whitacre) Grade 2
A Childhood Hymn (Holsinger) grade 2

Novelty
“Lightning Field” (Mackey) (5:36) Grade 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flMTMimUS9E

This piece is a completely different style than the other pieces I chose. Students will
really enjoy playing it. I think it’s really unique and adds a new sound to the concert. It’s more
texturally complex, darker, and edgier than the rest of the literature, especially the Reed. It’s
slower too so the concert won’t all be at one tempo. It will expose students to a new style of
playing. I also like that every instrument has an interesting and important part.
Other options:
Foundry (Mackey) grade 3
Snake Charmer (Stanridge) grade 2
Tight Squeeze (Shapiro) grade 3
The Great Locomotive Chase (Smith) grade 3

Biggie
“The Hounds of Spring” (Alferd Reed) Grade 4 (8:19)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9SKyj5lNg4

“The Hounds of Spring” is one of my favorite pieces. I picked it because it is a wind band
staple. It’s fun to listen to and it’s fun to play. It makes a great second-to-last piece or even closer
because it is so joyous and light. It feels like spring. It contrasts the novelty of the Mackey well
and the lyrical section compliments the Ticheli without being too similar. Students will be able to
translate the lyrical skills they developed in “Shenandoah '' to this piece and the technical skills
they developed on the Mackey and the March to the technical aspects of this piece. In addition, it
is in a different meter which adds to the variety of the concert. It also ends boldly and lyrically
which will contrast the closer, a technical march.

Other options:
Cajun Folk Dances (Ticheli) grade 3
San Antonio Dance (Ticheli) grade 4
Spoon River (Grainger) grade 3
Two Grainger Melodies (Grainger arr Kreines) Grade 3

March/Closer
“Whip and Spur Galop” (Thomas Allen Arr. Ray Kramer) (1:40) Grade 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdPJ8o-aEd8

I picked this march because it’s short and sweet but different from a lot of other marches.
I think students will really like it. It closes the concert well and wraps up the concert on a fun,
fast note. It addresses fast playing as well as exposing students to the march style. In addition, it
features sections that will provide a challenge to students and highlight the skill in the ensemble.

Other option:
Trombone King (King) grade 3
Circus Bee ( Filmore) grade 4
That Old Hound Dog Rag (Standridge) Grade 3
Nosy Wheel’s of Joy (Whitacre) Grade 4

Overview of Concert Selections

I tried to pick music that kids would have fun playing. If they don’t like the music they
won’t practice it. I had a hard time finding a novelty piece that wasn’t completely out of context
with the rest of the literature I selected. I don’t know if “Lightning Field” totally fits the novelty
description but I think it’s different enough from the rest of the lit it works. Originally I had
selected “Foundry” by John Mackey as my novelty but it was very out of place with the rest of
the music so I swapped it with “Lightning Field” which sounds more serious and complemented
and contrasted my other selections. I also struggled with the grade levels. Some of the pieces
were given drastically different grade levels from source to source. I tried to pick music that
sounded to me like a grade 2, 3, or 4 and balance the tougher pieces with some easier ones. I
wanted my concert to represent a variety of styles without any piece feeling out of place in the
block. I also wanted to find pieces that kept as much of the band engaged as possible so everyone
had an interesting part and no one would be left sitting and waiting for too long during
rehearsals. In addition, I wanted to include both newer/not as well-known music as well as
standards. “Hounds of Spring” and “Shenandoah” cover the classics even if they aren't as
standard as a Holst or Grainger. The Mackey is not one of his more well-known pieces as far as I
know but he is a substantial contemporary composer. The opener and march are both not super
well known however, Anthony O’Toole is an up-and-coming composer with some substantial
commissions and some of his pieces may become classics. I think this would be a good concert
block for a strong high school end-of-the-year concert.