Introducing the “Build-A-Band” Series! Monday, August 17, 2020
recommended by Ken T., Band Education Specialist
Build-A-Band Series: Flexible Musical Works for Challenging Instrumentations from C.L. Barnhouse
The Barnhouse Build-A-Band Series provides educational and enjoyable music for bands with incomplete or unbalanced instrumentation. Written using just four or five parts (plus percussion), these effective arrangements will work with any combination of brass, woodwind, string, and percussion instruments as long as you distribute the parts so that each of the five parts is covered. With over 75 titles the Build-A-Band Series features standard concert selections, marches, and holiday arrangements.
Best-Selling Titles:
A Christmas Trilogy arr. Scott Stanton, Grade 3
An outstanding arrangement for the series by Scott Stanton that includes the carol favorites “Hark The Herald Angels Sing,” “Silent Night” and “Angels We Have Heard On High.” Playable by any instrumentation as long as the four basic parts are covered, “A Christmas Trilogy” is wonderful programming for bands with very reduced instrumentation.
Fire Dance by David Shaffer, Grade 2.5
David Shaffer’s energetic “Fire Dance” has been a very popular band piece for many years, and David’s new arrangement for the Build-A-Band Series retains all of the fun and excitement of the original but allows it to sound great with very small bands or bands that have instrumentation issues. Includes multiple percussion parts which greatly enhance the piece. As is normal for this series, it includes an optional piano part.
March from Second Suite arr. Scott Stanton, Grade 3.5
One of the most famous British band compositions. Playable by any instrumentation as long as the four basic parts are covered, this wonderful arrangement will make any very small band sound very impressive!
Pomp and Circumstance arr. Scott Stanton, Grade 3
Includes several options for repeats so that you can make it just the right length for any situation. Guaranteed to sound great as long as you have the four basic parts covered and also includes optional percussion and keyboard parts that can enhance it even further.
Themes from the Nutcracker arr. Ed Huckeby, Grade 3
“Themes from the Nutcracker” is a perfect selection for any holiday concert. This splendid arrangement includes an introduction based on the Overture and the main themes from the March, the Arabian Dance and the Russian Dance. Playable by any instrumentation as long as the five basic parts are covered, it’s very playable and sure to be the hit of any holiday concert!
View the complete list of “Build-A-Band” series arrangements, and remember – no matter what your in-person or remote teaching requires this year, 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, and has been at Stanton’s since 2004. His iPod ranges from jazz and funk to classic and alternative rock, and symphonies. His interests include reading, history, traditional amusement parks, the Muppets, and hockey (especially the Penguins).