A Tale So Tall: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$85.00 USD

A Tale So Tall: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: A Tale So Tall: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-50880
Price: 85.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Anthony O'Toole

Grade: 3.5

Item: 00-50880

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version

$85.00

Shipped

One moment…

Written to honor the life and work of beloved educator and conductor Dr. Stephen L. Gage, A Tale So Tall is a vibrant and powerful composition by Anthony O'Toole that exudes the tremendous spirit and boundless energy of a man who dedicated his life to loving music and his students. The piece is a tour-de-force for the modern concert band that explodes from the first downbeat with endless momentum and zeal before reaching its triumphant and eventually peaceful conclusion. (4:50)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, A Tale So Tall: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.

Series: Alfred Concert Band

Publisher: Alfred Music

ISBN10: 1-4706-6862-9

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-6862-4

UPC: 038081587509

SKU: 00-50880

More about this title

Why we love this

O'Toole captures something real here: the electric charge of a conductor who lifts everyone in the room. The writing sustains momentum across four minutes fifty seconds without ever feeling repetitive, and the arc from explosive opening to genuine stillness gives your students a rare chance to experience tonal control at both extremes. Contest and festival adjudicators respond to this kind of craftsmanship.

What to expect

Pure kinetic energy that pulls you forward from the downbeat, driven by rhythmic momentum and soaring melodic lines that feel both modern and deeply human. The journey quiets into reflection before closing with hard-won peace, leaving the room changed.

Who it's for

Grade 3.5 bands ready for a contemporary showpiece that's both technically accessible and musically substantial. The piece works equally well for contest prep or as a anchor piece for a concert celebrating a director's legacy or the power of ensemble music.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the tempo early in sectionals. The opening unison figures need precision and confidence; they set the tone for everything that follows.
Balance the full ensemble sound against moments where individual sections step forward. The piece builds by adding layers, so clarity between parts matters as much as blend.
Reserve energy in the middle sections. Save your loudest, most powerful sonority for the true climax, not halfway through.
Shape the final peaceful section deliberately. This quiet conclusion is earned; resist the urge to rush it.

How to use it

Feature this as your opener or finale; the energy and emotional arc belong in a position of prominence. It's also a natural choice for a concert honoring a retiring director or celebrating a program milestone, given its inspirational subtext.