Concert Band Commencement Classics Wednesday, May 09, 2012
May is here, and with the end of the school year upon us, so are the annual commencement ceremonies. Stanton’s band staff is pleased to recommend the following arrangements of commencement standards for your band to sound its best for this important community event.
THE standard for over 40 years, James D. Ployhar’s Fanfare and Processional/Fanfare and Recessional featuring Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance along with original fanfares and a recessional, is a staple of high school band libraries across the country. Each year we sell plenty of replacement sets to directors whose copies are missing too many parts. Have you checked your library yet?
If you’re looking for something different, Academic Processional & Recessional arranged by Robert W. Smith and Ed Huckeby presents a fresh new treatment of the ceremonial “must-haves” Pomp and Circumstance and Sine Nomine at the grade 3 level! Skillfully scored for success even with limited instrumentation, they nevertheless sound full and solid, with some inspired creative touches.
Lastly, Michael Story’s Graduation Suite is perfect for middle school commencement or smaller high school bands. This accessible arrangement pairs Elgar’s traditional Pomp and Circumstance with the Rondeau by Jean-Joseph Mouret as the recessional (think Masterpiece Theatre; or for Sesame Street fans, Monsterpiece Theatre with Alistair Cookie!).