A Classic Touch: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Arr. Victor López
Grade: 0.5 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0001461
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Description
Two famous largo movements join for A Classic Touch. The largo from Dvorák's Symphony No. 9 in E Minor and the largo from Handel's Xerxes both work very nicely for your very beginning ensemble. They can be performed together or used separately as outstanding warm-up chorales. A musical classical choice! (3:45) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
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Additional Details
Series:
Belwin Very Beginning Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
136
SKU:
00-PK-0001461
More about this title
About the Arranger: Victor Lopez
Victor Lopez is an arranger and composer whose work has become foundational in music education, particularly in building accessible concert band literature for developing ensembles. His arrangements prioritize clarity and musicality while respecting the technical limitations of young musicians, making him a trusted voice in very beginning band curricula across North America.
Why we love this
This pairing solves a real programming challenge: you get two masterworks that are genuinely playable for a brand-new ensemble without sacrificing musical substance. The fact that these can function as independent warm-up chorales or as a paired concert statement gives you flexibility that most Grade 0.5 repertoire simply doesn't offer.
What to expect
Both movements carry the contemplative dignity of the Baroque and Romantic eras. The Dvorák's long, singing lines open with a gentle melancholy, while the Handel shifts into a more measured, stately character. Together they create a moment of genuine musical reflection without requiring technical virtuosity.
Who it's for
Directors building very beginning concert band programs who need repertoire with real musical weight and historical significance. These arrangements are especially valuable for ensembles that include substantial numbers of first-year players or mixed instrumentation situations where traditional Grade 1 parts demand too much.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melody between your most reliable players and let the harmonic foundation sit underneath; the arrangement is lean enough that every voice matters.
- Treat these as genuine vocal music transposed to instruments. Shape phrases with vocal inflection and avoid letting young ensembles play mechanically through sustained passages.
- If performing both pieces back-to-back, allow a breath between the Dvorák and Handel to let the emotional character of each movement land separately.
How to use it
Program these as a concert opener to establish an elegant tone, or use them separately throughout the season as warm-up chorales during sectional rehearsals. They work particularly well early in the school year when your ensemble is still finding its collective sound.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining long tones with consistent tone quality
- Phrasing and musical shaping in slow music
- Listening to and balancing harmonic parts
- Reading conductor cues in sustained passages
- Intonation awareness in chord changes