Light Concert Programming for Community Band Thursday, January 09, 2020
recommended by Ken T., Band Education Specialist
Coast to Coast: An American Musical Road Trip arr. Joe Derhake, Grade 3.5
Travel across the country from New York to San Francisco and points in between, as this medley drives you through some of the best-known songs about U.S. cities and states in just a few minutes! Just be sure to hold onto your seat. Though the ride begins with a smooth cruise, there are a few tricky curves in the road ahead, and maybe even an “Easter egg” or two. Featuring: “The Sidewalks of New York,” “My Kind of Town (Chicago Is),” “Kansas City, Here I Come,” “The Yellow Rose of Texas,” “Viva Las Vegas,” and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”
La Mariposa by Lorrie Baum, Grade 3.5
“La Mariposa,” with its very catchy and memorable lilting melodies, gives students exposure to Latin music in the form of the Mambo. The Mambo is a syncopated style of music and dance that originated in Cuba in the early 1900s. Alternating between D major and D minor, the melodic material in “La Mariposa” is evenly distributed between the high and low woodwinds and brass. Your students and audiences alike will love this piece!
Petersborough Sleighride by Richard Ellenberg/arr. Andrew Glover, Grade 3
Are you tired of the same old sleigh ride? Then jump aboard the “Petersborough Sleighride,” a delightful work which depicts a horse-drawn trek through the wintry backroads. A noted favorite of European salon music, this charming piece will be a favorite of your winter concert – or even summer concerts, to help cool off your audience! Listeners will smile and tap their feet as this music paints a picture of a wintery romp through the snow. Irresistible!
Sweet Horn Rag by Al Sweet, Grade 3
The F Horn section provides harmonic and rhythmic structure to the band, but does not often get a chance to be featured. “Sweet Horn Rag” was written to give them a chance to show their beauty and versatility.
Three Appalachian Songs arr. Dwight Bigler, Grade 4
The classic early American folk songs “Cluck Old Hen,” “Poor Wayfarin’ Stranger” and “Sourwood Mountain” are beautifully set for band and chorus in this appealing concert suite. Arranged with various performance options available, these songs may be performed individually as well as together in a suite format. In addition, these can be performed with band alone, chorus and piano alone, or with combined groups.
A Trombone Family Reunion by Henry Fillmore/arr. Andrew Glover, Grade 3.5
Between 1908 and 1929, Henry Fillmore composed a series of fifteen novelty pieces featuring the trombone section with band. These became collectively known as “The Trombone Family,” with names and subtitles connecting them in sort of a musical genealogy. The three most popular family members, “Lassus Trombone,” “Miss Trombone,” and “Shoutin’ Liza Trombone” join together in a whimsical way for “A Trombone Family Reunion,” along with some “shirttail relatives” depicted by famous trombone excerpts from the symphonic repertoire. Included are quotations from “Blue Bells Of Scotland,” “Symphony No. 4” by Tchaikovsky, “Tannhauser Overture,” “Second Hungarian Rhapsody,” “Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin,” “Hallelujah Chorus,” “Ride of the Valkyries,” “Turkey In The Straw,” and a few other surprises. Great fun!
Contact us for more creative programming ideas for your community band. Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!
About the Author:
A former band director, Ken taught grade 5-12 band and music appreciation in both public and parochial schools in central Ohio. His iPod ranges from jazz to classic and alternative rock, symphonies, and classic songs from Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. His interests include comic books, traditional amusement parks, the Muppets, football and hockey (especially the Steelers and Penguins), and all things Pittsburgh.