Format : Score and Parts
SKU: CL.012-3895-01
Fingers will fly and ears will perk up to this unique quick-step march titled Half Step March by Kyle McKinzey. As the title suggests, it is a flurry of chromatic runs and licks that will make your students WANT to practice, and have your audience’s toes tapping. For many, it will bring back memories of the old circus marches. You will be able to see clowns running about, trapeze artists flying around and much more. A great opener to a concert, or a quick encore piece that will leave them wanting more.
SKU: CF.YPS105
ISBN 9780825884870. UPC: 798408084875. 9 x 12 inches. Key: Bb major.
Based on our popular New Bennett Band Book series, we have compiled march-style warm-ups in a separate publication so they may be used by all bands wishing to learn from them. These innovative warm-ups and fundamental drills are the ultimate method of teaching and reinforcing the March style.How To Use the March Warm-upsPlaying in a march style can present difficulties for young students. The most prevalent problem is that students have a tendency to play every note too short. Conversely, accented notes are usually played incorrectly with too much tongue. Do marches contain short notes? Absolutely, but these shortest of notes should be reserved for notes that precede an accent or notes that are specifically marked with a staccato. Think of unmarked notes as being separated, but not short and certainly not clipped or stopped with the tongue. Accented notes should be played with more weight using air and more length, and not just a harder tongue. Accents are given to show emphasis to a note and should be thought of in this manner.The warm-up exercises provided in this collection should give you many opportunities to stress the above-mentioned comments on march performance style. The following gives an explanation on the purpose and use of each of these exercises.No. 1 – Basic Chords and ModulationsOne of the challenges of playing marches with young students is successfully performing the key change at the Trio. This exercise presents the three basic chords (tonic, subdominant and dominant) in each of the three keys in this collection of marches. You can also use this exercise to teach and reinforce the style of accented notes. You may want to have your band play major scales in succession by fourths to reinforce the concept of modulation to the subdominant that occurs at the Trio (i.e. the B≤-major scale, then the E≤-major scale, then the A≤-major scale). I might suggest getting the students to try continuing the pattern all the way around the circle of fourths.No. 2 – March Style in B≤ MajorThis exercise contains many opportunities to teach and reinforce the difference between staccato and accented notes. The melody voices move up and down the B≤-major scale, while other instruments play chords commonly found in the marches in this collection. These include diminished chords, secondary dominant chords (i.e. the V of the V) and other common chromatic chords that Fillmore often used.No. 3 – Cakewalk Rhythm in B≤ MajorThe simple syncopated rhythm in this exercise is common to many marches. This drill gives you the opportunity to teach/ reinforce the standard ar-ticulation and natural accent of this rhythmic pattern. Again, this exercise uses an ascending and descending major-scale pattern as the melodic basis, accompanied by chords commonly found in American- style marches.No. 4 – The March Scale in B≤ MajorI call this exercise “The March Scale,” because often in marches (and especially in these marches) the descending half-step is part of the melodic material. These chromatic figures give the melodies of many marches their charm and flow. Thus, I devised this exercise and others like it in E≤ major and A≤ major to familiarize students with these patterns. I would suggest playing the pattern in a variety of ways different from what is written. Here are some other possibilities:• Tongue one, slur three• Slur two, tongue two• Tongue two, slur two• Tongue one, slur two, tongue oneGradually increase the tempo to the march tempo and the articulation style will fall right into place.Another important consideration is the performance of the bass line and the bass-drum part. Too often, the bass drum and bass instruments play their parts with equal emphasis on both beats in the measure. This is incorrect, and frequently makes the marchNo. 5 – March Style in E≤ MajorThis is a similar to exercise No. 2, but with a different rhythmic pattern. Emphasize the difference between accented and unaccented notes. Also, play the exercise with line direction moving the musical line forward. Experiment and play the exercise with different dynamic choices and with hairpins up and down in different ways.No. 6 – More March Style in E≤ MajorExercise No. 6 comprises more rhythmic patterns and harmonic materials in E≤ major to teach and reinforce the march style. This exercise em-phasizes the sixteenth-note rhythm, as notated in the third measure of the exercise. Young stu- dents have a tendency to “crush” the sixteenths; consequently, they lack clarity. It would be a good idea to work this rhythmic figure on a scale pattern with all of the instruments in the band as an additional warm-up exercise.No. 7 – The March Scale in E≤ MajorSee the information for No. 4 and apply it to this exercise. Use all of the various articulations described above as well.No. 8 – March Style in A≤ MajorSee the information for No. 2 and apply it to this exercise.No. 9 – Cakewalk Rhythm in A≤ MajorSee the information for No. 3 and apply it to this exercise.No. 10 – The March Scale in A≤ MajorSee the information for No. 4 and apply it to this exercise.Other Ideas for March PerformanceA rehearsal practice that has worked very well for me is to start out by having the band play the march very slowly at about Œ = 60 in a chorale/legato style. The slow tempo is a fine opportunity to work on clarity of harmonic move- ment and to work on the balance and blend of the tutti band sound. This will pay great dividends toward improving the sound of your band. Gradually increase the tempo to the march tempo and the articulation style will fall right into place.Another important consideration is the performance of the bass line and the bass-drum part. Too often, the bass drum and bass instruments play their parts with equal emphasis on both beats in the measure. This is incorrect, and frequently makes the march.
SKU: CF.CPS233
ISBN 9781491156322. UPC: 680160914869. 9 x 12 inches.
Fanfare: Generation Next Fanfare: Generation Next is a piece I wrote in honor of Mr. Dean Zirkle, long-time director of bands at Camp Hill Senior High School (near Harrisburg, PA). I had been working as Dean's marching band arranger/composer for eleven years when he announced his upcoming retirement, and I felt compelled to write a piece to pay tribute to his remarkable contributions to music education and to the lives of his students and colleagues. The piece is built on two primary ideas. The first idea is a musical rendering of the name Dean. D, E, and A are all musical notes, but N is not. I have chosen to use a neighbor tone (a note a half-step above or below a given note) to finish off the name. (MUSIC EXAMPLE) This melodic idea occurs throughout the composition in a variety of transformations. Sometimes it is presented with the exact notes shown above; sometimes the interval structure is maintained, but the pitch series is transposed (G-A-D-C#, for example); sometimes the four notes are played in order, sometimes out of order; sometimes the first three notes (D-E-A) sound together as a chord; etc. (MUSIC EXAMPLE) The second idea is a rhythmic motive, established in the opening brass fanfare. (MUSIC EXAMPLE) This rhythm is later transformed to the accent pattern shown below, which is used as an ostinato throughout much of the allegro section of the piece. .Fanfare: Generation Next Fanfare: Generation Next is a piece I wrote in honor of Mr. Dean Zirkle, long-time director of bands at Camp Hill Senior High School (near Harrisburg, PA). I had been working as Dean’s marching band arranger/composer for eleven years when he announced his upcoming retirement, and I felt compelled to write a piece to pay tribute to his remarkable contributions to music education and to the lives of his students and colleagues.The piece is built on two primary ideas. The first idea is a musical rendering of the name “Dean.” D, E, and A are all musical notes, but N is not. I have chosen to use a “neighbor tone” (a note a half-step above or below a given note) to finish off the name.(MUSIC EXAMPLE)This melodic idea occurs throughout the composition in a variety of transformations. Sometimes it is presented with the exact notes shown above; sometimes the interval structure is maintained, but the pitch series is transposed (G-A-D-C#, for example); sometimes the four notes are played in order, sometimes out of order; sometimes the first three notes (D-E-A) sound together as a chord; etc.(MUSIC EXAMPLE)The second idea is a rhythmic motive, established in the opening brass fanfare.(MUSIC EXAMPLE)This rhythm is later transformed to the accent pattern shown below, which is used as an ostinato throughout much of the allegro section of the piece. .
SKU: CF.CPS233F
ISBN 9781491156339. UPC: 680160914876. 9 x 12 inches.
SKU: CF.BPS34F
ISBN 9780825855368. UPC: 798408055363. 9 X 12 inches. Key: Bb major.
Your young band is sure to receive high acclaim when they play this nifty two-step march. It is composed of just half notes and quarter notes, but there are several accidentals and a key change to keep things interesting and band members learning. This chipper tune will be an audience favorite!
SKU: M7.VGH-546-70
ISBN 9790206660191.
Ständchen is the German word for Serenade, which is related to the word Stehen, which means Standing. Therefore, I invented the word Sitzchen, which would mean to serenade from a sitting position. I composed these two works for the 85th birthday of Ernst Krenek, the first for violin (to be played standing), the second for piano (to be played, of course, sitting). The half-step motion EE flatE, inherent in Ernst Krenek's name, became a horizontal motif in the violin piece and a vertical line in the piano piece. In the Ständchen, the opening and its repetitions are lyrically conceived as a chorus, whereas the dancelike contrasting interludes combine elements of the old and new worlds to portray Krenek's multi-faceted life between two continents. March-like and resounding bells characterize the appearance of the piano piece.
SKU: AP.36-A187401
ISBN 9798892700894. UPC: 659359629310. English.
Violin virtuoso and composer Niccolò Paganini's (1782-1840) Concerto for Violin No. 1 in D, Op. 6 was written between 1817 and 1818, with the premiere taking place on March 31, 1819, in Naples, Italy. The work was originally written in the key of E-flat, with the orchestral parts all written in that key, while the solo violin was written in D and instructed to play with a half-step scordatura. This was done to make some of the extremely technical solo sections possible on a single string, but it also somewhat muffled the string section of the orchestra, permitting the soloist to better standout. Likely to avoid the scordatura, a version was later created in the key of D. Instrumentation: 2.2.2.1+CBsn: 2.2.3.0: Timp.Perc(2): Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set): Solo Violin not included in set. Reprint edition.
These products are currently being prepared by a new publisher. While many items are ready and will ship on time, some others may see delays of several months.
SKU: AP.36-A187402
UPC: 659359988110. English.
