OMEA Virtual Exception Recommendations Thursday, February 04, 2021
recommended by Megan W., Orchestra Specialist
Find you have fewer musicians or your instrumentation has issues? Don’t count yourself out of solo and ensemble events yet! For the Ohio Music Education Association’s Virtual Solo & Ensemble Adjudicated Event, high school ensembles can enter in the new “Flex Class” designation. Flex Class is designed for those members who have “unique” COVID-forced instrumentations. In Flex Class there is no required list and a rating will be assigned. Directors are encouraged to choose quality music through flex arrangements or other quality literature.
Find your flexible fixes from this list of highly recommended titles written for band and orchestra.
GRADE 0.5-1.5
Great Beginnings by Michael Kamuf, Grade 0.5 Flex Band/Strings
This energetic composition is the perfect opener or closer employing soaring melodies, rich harmonies, and driving rhythms. All instruments get an opportunity to play melodic material, and this piece is a great vehicle to introduce slurs and accents to your beginners.
Tambora by William Owens, Grade 0.5 Flex Band
Using just six notes, this intense work evokes the power and ferocity of an active Indonesian volcano! After an epic opening, bold melodic lines intertwine with moments of clapping and stomping while an array of percussion colors paint a vivid picture of the 1815 Mount Tambora eruption and the tragic aftermath. Simply stunning!
Escape from Thunder Mountain by Scott Watson, Grade 1.5 Flex Band/Strings
The tropical island volcano, Thunder Mountain, has lain dormant for years. As a party of adventurous researchers work atop the legendary mountain, it begins to shake with pre-eruption tremors! Check out this original composition by Scott Watson!
GRADE 2-2.5
Blue Ridge Reel by Brian Balmages, Grade 2.5 Flex Band
Adaptable 4-part orchestration with piano and percussion. An exciting venture into the world of bluegrass based on one of the composer’s most popular works for band.
Capstone by Tyler Arcari, Grade 2 Flex Band/Strings
Young bands will enjoy playing this traditional march. Lots of dynamic changes and built-in color will have your audiences clapping in no time. A melodic horn part and moving low brass lines will keep everyone in the band interested and sounding their best! Playable as little as 5 wind/string players and percussion, this accessible concert march is perfect for small ensemble rehearsal, performance, or as a planning piece for when your ensemble comes back together in force.
Danza de mi Corazon (Dance of My Heart) by Steven L. Rosenhaus, Grade 2.5 Flex Strings
Composer Steven Rosenhaus always strives to have his music connect emotionally with players and audiences alike. This energetic work does that and makes you want to dance too! It’s truly a “dance of the heart.”
Habanera (from Carmen) arr. Scott Stanton, Grade 2.5 Flex Band
This classic spicy Spanish theme is an excellent rhythmic contrast piece that is familiar to all. Teaching concepts include chromatic scales, melody vs. accompaniment playing, and extreme dynamics. All players get to play melody. Cues are written throughout for easy adaptation for all size bands. Optional parts for guitar, piano, bass and percussion will round out the sound of your band. Give your students exposure to this great Romantic melody.
Into the Clouds! by Richard L. Saucedo, Grade 2-3 Flex Band
Featuring a driving pulse throughout, powerful percussion writing, and dramatic impact points, here is Richard’s popular contest work for young players carefully adapted for flexible instrumentation. “Into the Clouds!” is an impressive way to open any concert!
Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing arr. Paul Murtha, Grade 2 Flex Band
James Weldon Johnson’s 1900 poem was set to music by his brother in 1905, and has since become known as the “Black national anthem.” With a theme of thanksgiving and affirmation, this is a stirring anthem for our times.
Sundance by Carl Strommen, Grade 2.5 Flex Band
Hear the sounds of the mountains in this dynamic concert work for young bands. Carl Strommen’s piece has great potential for festival performance, and now in a flexible instrumentation version it will be readily playable by more bands.
GRADE 3+
Hungarian Dance #5 by Johannes Brahms/arr. Scott Stanton, Grade 3 Flex Band with optional strings
The unique sounds of this popular classic are transformed into a very useful selection for groups with small or unusual instrumentations. From the inventive Build-A-Band Series, it is playable with any instrumentation as long as the four main parts are covered. Optional parts are included for Piano/Keyboard, Strings, Guitar, Mallet Keyboards and Percussion that can add to the charm of the performance when used. The many tempo and style changes from the original make this a wonderful teaching tool.
March from The First Suite by Gustav Holst/arr. Scott Stanton, Grade 3.5 Flex Band
The final movement from the Holst First Suite has been arranged in the Build-A-Band format by Scott Stanton, making this timeless band classic accessible to small or limited instrumentation ensembles. A top-notch selection for contest, festival or concert performance.
Renaissance Suite by Tielman Susato/arr. James Curnow, Grade 2-3 Flex Band
James Curnow’s Renaissance Suite for full band continues to be a popular choice for contest and festival. Here is a version carefully adapted for flexible instrumentation that features these distinctive 16th-century dances by Susato – I. Las Mourisque (Basse Danse), II. Mille regretz (Pavane), and III. La bataille (Pavane).
Three Ayres from Gloucester by Hugh M. Stuart/arr. Robert Longfield, Grade 2-3 Flex Band
This playable yet musically rewarding three-movement suite was composed by Hugh M. Stuart in 1969 and continues to be a popular work for contest and festivals. Skillfully adapted here for flexible instrumentation, the music captures the early English folksong style with moods and dances of the common folk.
For more options, visit the Flex Category on our website. Remember, no pop pieces for OMEA S&E! And as always, shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!
About the Author:
Megan W., originally from Pittsburgh PA, is happy to call Columbus and Stanton’s Sheet Music “Home.” As a musician, Megan has played in marching and concert bands, youth orchestras, full orchestras, small ensembles, and a few choirs. Her interests include fiddling, reading, writing, martial arts and yoga.