Par SPARKE PHILIP. This piece was inspired by the composer watching his young son, Benny, playing ‘soldiers’ with his collection of teddy bears - how appropriate!But it made him think of the many character pieces which take the form of a ‘toy march’, the most notable examples being by Haydn, Tchaikovsky and Leon Jessel. Parade of the Clockwork Soldiers is in the form of a ‘patrol’ (starting and en…

Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme. Par BACH JOHANN SEBASTIAN. This enchanting melody is from the fourth movement of Bach’s Cantata 140 which was composed in 1731 using the parable of the wise and foolish virgins as the text. The work is beautiful in its simplicity with only three melodic lines, demonstratingBach’s counterpoint at its best. For greatest effect it is suggested that the trumpets and tr…

Par SAUCEDO RICHARD. This powerful work for band is composed in two main sections. The opening slow section features stunning impact points mixed with moments of majestic lyricism and distinctive harmonies. The energetic Presto section in 3/4 is introduced using a percussion ostinato with heroic and fanfare-like figures layered in from various sections of the band. The piece builds to an exciting …

Arr. Lorenzo Bocci. Par MC COY VAN. In 1975, a new dance form took the Latin-Amercan areas of the Bronx by storm. After observing the frenzy of the dancers in that area, Van McCoy composed a melody that successfully took its basis from Latin and R&B. The Hustle was an instant success and made a large contribution to the evolution of disco music in the 1970's. Your band will not be able to resist t…

Par GRIEG EDVARD. Edvard Grieg is probably the best known of all Norwegian composers. He was one of the most important figures during the nationalistic romantic period and his music always contained the essence of this beautiful Scandinavian country. The Last Spring comes from Two Elegiac Melodies for String Orchestra and this version for concert band retains all the beauty and solemnity of the or…

Alfreds Guitar Play-Along series presents some of the most classic songs in modern music in practical but easy-to-play arrangements, in TAB and standard notation. The music within works for both the bedroom hobbyist, who can practice with the provided play-along tracks to feel what its like to play with other musicians, and the weekend warrior, who can perform these arrangements with a band. The s…

Par DE HAAN JACOB. This composition is based on a passacaglia theme, in which artistic perfection, symphonic drama and oriental melody lines play a role. The passacaglia is originally a dance made up of a series of variations above a bass line constantly present as an ostinato. It is not in this sense that the 'Symphonic Variations' are in the passacaglia form but in the sense of the open form of …