A River Trilogy: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By John O'Reilly
Grade: 1 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0001403
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Description
A River Trilogy provides a wonderful opportunity for first year bands to work on legato style. After an original introduction, the full ensemble plays the African-American spiritual "Deep River." A clarinet and flute duet ushers in the early English folk song "The Water is Wide," and the full band concludes with a lovely treatment of the American classic "Shenandoah." (2:15)
Correlated with Accent on Achievement, Book 1, page 28.
Correlated with Accent on Achievement, Book 1, page 28.
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Additional Details
Series:
Accent on Achievement
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
120
SKU:
00-PK-0001403
More about this title
About the Composer: John O'Reilly
John O'Reilly is a composer and educator whose arrangements and original works have become foundational texts in beginning band curricula. His work with the Accent on Achievement series has shaped how countless students encounter legato playing, phrasing, and ensemble balance in their first year of band instruction.
Why we love this
This piece does what first-year band music should do: it teaches legato phrasing through repertoire that students recognize and care about. The strategic use of a duet section gives you a natural opportunity to address individual articulation and tone while the rest of the ensemble listens and learns, and the three-movement arc keeps energy and engagement high without overwhelming younger players.
What to expect
Warm and unhurried. The spiritual opens with quiet reflection, the folk song duet brings a moment of intimate conversation, and the final treatment of Shenandoah wraps everything in a broadly lyrical close. Students play music they recognize, which makes the technical work of sustained, shaped playing feel purposeful rather than abstract.
Who it's for
First-year concert bands looking for a structured entry into legato playing and phrasing. This piece works equally well for groups building fundamentals or preparing concert repertoire that balances accessibility with musical substance.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening introduction to establish the legato style you'll want throughout. Have your band listen carefully to how the melodic line breathes in the spiritual section.
- Balance the clarinet and flute duet so both voices carry equal weight. This section is a listening moment for the full band, so use it to demonstrate the singing quality you're building.
- Keep Shenandoah at a gentle tempo. The lyricism of this arrangement depends on space between phrases rather than forward momentum.
How to use it
Program this as an early-season concert closer when you want to showcase legato development without demanding technical complexity. It also pairs naturally with other folk song arrangements or spirituals in a concert exploring American roots music, and it's compact enough to use as a final rehearsal piece when time is limited.
Skills your students will build
- Legato articulation and sustained tone
- Phrasing and musical shape across full phrases
- Ensemble balance and blend in unison sections
- Listening and adjustment in duet contexts
- Style and expression in chorale-style writing