News & Views Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Community Band Spotlight: Songs of Love Monday, February 12, 2018

by Ken Tilger, Band Education Specialist –

This post is part of a series highlighting music for community bands.

With Valentine’s Day only a couple of days away, I thought it a great time to present these new band arrangements centered on love.  While they would provide interesting variety for any school spring concert, I found their uniqueness especially suitable for community groups.  Besides, who couldn’t use a little more love?

Can’t Buy Me Love
(Medley of Hits from The Beatles)
arr. Paul Murtha
Hal Leonard Concert Band
Grade 3                                    $70.00
The timeless quality of music by The Beatles shines through in this nicely paced medley of hits. Perform this with band alone, or combine with choir and strings for a memorable production. Includes: Here Comes the Sun, In My Life, and Can’t Buy Me Love.

Canzoni D’Amore (Songs of Love)
arr. Robert Longfield
Barnhouse Concert Band
Grade 3.5                     $84.00
Canzoni D’Amore is a lyrical medley of three beautiful, classic Italian love songs. Featured songs include Serenata, Caro Mio Ben, and Torna a Surriento. Masterfully crafted to give interesting parts to all sections, Canzoni D’Amore will expose your audiences to the best of treasured Italian melodies.

Make Our Garden Grow
arr. Joseph Kreines
Boosey & Hawkes
Grade 3                                    $65.00
From Bernstein’s 1956 operetta Candide, the beautiful closing number, Make Our Garden Grow, has gone on to become a beloved and familiar classic. Arranged here for younger bands, this setting moves from delicate scoring in the opening to a powerful climax by the full ensemble.

About the Author:
Ken is a former band director, and has been with Stanton’s since 2004.  His iPod ranges from jazz and funk to classic and alternative rock, and symphonies.  Besides music, he geeks out on amusement parks, hockey (Are 4 hockey podcasts too many?), and all things Pittsburgh.  He spends his free time being Dad to 2 young children and playing saxophone with Swing’s the Thing Big Band.

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