A Canadian Ballad: E-flat Alto Saxophone
Arr. Robert Sheldon
Grade: 1 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0014549_AX1
$3.00
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Description
The traditional Newfoundland lyric ballad, "She's Like a Swallow," is presented for band with all the passion and emotion it deserves. This tragic tale has many interpretations, but in all its forms is certainly a story of love and loss. A Canadian Ballad provides young bands with an opportunity to play with great color and expression, bringing a moment of repose and lyricism to any concert performance. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud. Correlates to Sound Innovations for Concert Band, Book 2, Level 2.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, A Canadian Ballad: E-flat Alto Saxophone comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Sound Innovations for Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
134
SKU:
00-PC-0014549_AX1
More about this title
About the Arranger: Robert Sheldon
Robert Sheldon's arrangements and original compositions have become staples in concert band programs worldwide. His work with Sound Innovations for Concert Band as lead author demonstrates his deep understanding of how young musicians develop musical literacy and interpretive skills alongside technical facility.
Sheldon's recognition includes honors from the American School Band Directors Association, Phi Beta Mu, and ASCAP. He has appeared as guest conductor for All-State and Regional Honor Bands across the United States and internationally in Japan, Canada, Italy, Germany, Australia, and China. His music has been performed at Carnegie Hall, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Boston's Symphony Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In 2020, VanderCook College of Music granted him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his contributions to wind band literature and music education.
Why we love this
Young bands often struggle to sustain lyrical passages with genuine musicality, but this arrangement gives them the tools to do exactly that. Sheldon has preserved the haunting character of "She's Like a Swallow" while distributing the melody accessibly across the band, allowing multiple sections to share ownership of the emotional core. The result is a piece that feels substantial and purposeful despite its Grade 1 accessibility, making it equally valuable for a winter concert or a solo performance at festival.
What to expect
A moment of stillness and introspection in any concert program. The traditional ballad unfolds with the quiet dignity of a folk tale passed hand to hand, offering young players a chance to sit with emotion rather than rush past it. The arrangement honors the melancholy of the original while making it accessible to developing ensembles.
Who it's for
Grade 1 concert bands ready to move beyond marchlike fanfares and explore genuine lyricism. This arrangement works well for groups developing expressive control and musical sensitivity alongside their technical skills.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the melody with a long phrase line rather than short breaths; encourage players to hear the ballad as a continuous story even when passing the tune between sections.
- Balance the harmonic foundation carefully so accompanimental voices support rather than overshadow the lyrical line; Grade 1 bands often struggle with this restraint.
- Explore dynamic contrast within each phrase to convey the emotional weight of the text, even though students are reading music rather than words.
- Give soloists or principal players in the melody line a chance to rehearse privately or in small groups to build ownership before full ensemble rehearsals.
How to use it
Place this during the second half of a concert when audience attention is settling in, or use it to close a program on a contemplative note. It pairs well alongside other folk-inspired works or original compositions that emphasize songfulness over virtuosity, and provides a striking contrast to faster, more energetic selections.
Skills your students will build
- sustaining legato phrasing across multiple measures
- balancing melody and accompaniment within harmonic texture
- communicating emotional intent through dynamic shaping and breath placement
- playing with restraint and control at soft dynamic levels
- reading straightforward harmonic structures in concert band voicing