search.noResults

search.searching

dataCollection.invalidEmail
note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
Band Music Reviews


How is it possible that a new school year is upon us? The summers seem to fly by as if we are watching a NASCAR race at Talladega. We thankfully reach the end of May and blink once and it’s the first of August and time to finalize the repertoire planning for your upcoming school year. This summer, I was honored to serve as one of the clinicians at the New England Band Directors Institute, held annually at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire. One of the clinics I was asked to present was to conduct the directors Reading Band as they read some of the new music available for purchase for the upcoming year. It was a fantastic experience to work with these dedicated band directors from all across New England as they prepared for the upcoming school year, familiarizing themselves with the new literature that is available to us from the talented composers working today. All three of the pieces included in my review were read during this conference and I hope you will consider programming any, or all, of these educational pieces during the upcoming year. I have chosen music that I would consider at the grade 2, 3 and 4 level, so there is definitely something for everyone…including a holiday concert suggestion!


Ash and Stone, published by TSG Music Works, is one of the recent additions to our literature by Alabama’s own Tyler S. Grant. Tyler is a recent graduate of the University of Alabama and has just started his teaching career serving as the Director of Bands at Holy Innocents Episcopal School in Atlanta, Georgia. Ash and Stone was commissioned by a consortium of middle school and high school bands from all across the country and is written at the grade 2 level.


One of the challenges for young wind band


musicians is to be comfortable performing in time signatures other than 4/4. Tyler chose to write this piece in 3/4 time, and it provides a wonderful teaching opportunity for young bands to solidify their performance in triple meter. Utilizing appealing tonalities and a few “special effects”, your young band students are sure to enjoy performing this piece which is a musical depiction of the power and force of what lies beneath the earths’ surface. All voices have an opportunity to contribute to the piece which includes only two clarinet parts, two trumpet parts, one trombone part (with divisi) and plenty of notes to keep your percussionists busy and, more importantly, challenged. Ash and Stone is another well- constructed piece which shows Tyler’s growth as a composer and music educator. I hope you will consider Ash and Stone for your young bands this coming year. I’m sure both you and your students will enjoy working on this piece.


Programming for your holiday concert can prove to be especially challenging, as the body of music written for the holidays is certainly limited. Composer David Gorham brings us a delightful new holiday concert piece this year with A Celtic Christmas, published by Wingert-Jones Publications. David has been the director of bands at Owasso High School in Oklahoma since 1989 and has one of the most respected programs in the country. Music from Ireland has gained tremendous popularity over the past few years and David utilizes two familiar Celtic tunes for this outstanding work. Using the beautifully melodic “Wexford Carol” and “I Saw Three Ships”, the piece allows us the opportunity to


ala breve


Randall Coleman


strengthen our students skills in performing lyrical, flowing lines with the Wexford Carol and to hone our skills at playing in 6/8 meter with I Saw Three Ships. Complete with the characteristic sounds of the bagpipe drones and Celtic drumming, this work is sure to be a big hit with your students and your audience alike. Written at the Grade 3 level, A Celtic Christmas is composed using three clarinet parts, two alto saxophone parts, two trumpet parts and two trombone parts. The percussion writing is strong and offers your percussionists many opportunities for growth. I encourage those of you with more advanced groups to take a look at this piece. The writing for the chorale style opening is exceptional and the piece offers an incredible opportunity for our students to perform in a characteristic “lilting” style with the writing in the final section. A Celtic Christmas would make a delightful addition to your holiday concert.


Another addition to the repertoire from Wingert-Jones Publishing and composer Travis J. Weller is an exciting concert opener titled Triumphant Flourishes. Written at the Grade 4 level, this piece was written to honor a retiring music educator for her service to the profession for over 30 years. In Triumphant Flourishes, Travis uses 6/8 time as the vehicle for presenting an imaginative and attractive set of themes. I have found that teaching the proper style for performing pieces in 6/8 always provides a challenge for most middle school and high school students. Any opportunity I have to work on music that strengthens the students understanding of this concept, I take advantage of that opportunity. Triumphant Flourishes provides just that opportunity and is both joyful and celebratory and would be appropriate for use at any time during the school year.


The piece is well-crafted and offers many


interesting and colorful melodic and rhythmic counter-lines which will keep your students engaged as they work toward their performance of this fantastic new piece. Travis J. Weller is the director of music education at Messiah College, where is supervises student teachers, works with graduate conducting students, teaches methods courses and conducts the Symphonic Winds. His new Triumphant Flourishes is a welcome addition to our repertoire, and I encourage you to consider this inspiring and educational piece.


As always, I hope the new school year brings you excitement and joy and that you and your students will enjoy the new adventures ahead. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance to you or your program.


Randall Coleman


Associate Director of Bands, University of Alabama Conductor and Music Director, Alabama Winds


39


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48