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A (Very) Short History of Music: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$51.00 USD

A (Very) Short History of Music: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: A (Very) Short History of Music: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-46609
Price: 51.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Various / arr. Douglas E. Wagner

Grade: 1 (Very Easy)

Item: 00-46609

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And they said it couldn't be done---a genuine setting that will demonstrate the unique roots of Western music in two-and-a-half minutes. This straightforward, compelling work chronicles the entire transformation throughout history. Certain to capture your students' imagination.

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

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Series: Belwin Beginning Band

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 132

UPC: 038081532356

SKU: 00-46609

More about this title

About the Arranger: Douglas E. Wagner

Douglas E. Wagner studied composition and music education at Butler University, earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees before launching a thirty-year career as a high school music director and administrator in the Midwest. Since 1973, he has become one of the most prolific composers in American music education, with over 3,500 published works spanning concert band, choir, orchestra, handbell ensemble, piano, organ, and voice.

Wagner's music reaches millions of musicians annually. More than seventeen million copies of his compositions have been purchased by schools, churches, and performance ensembles worldwide, and his work has been featured on national broadcasts and in concert halls across the United States and internationally. He currently lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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Why we love this

Wagner accomplishes something genuinely difficult here: a musically coherent journey through centuries of Western music without sacrificing accessibility or engagement. Beginning band students get to play real music history, not a cartoonish parody of it, which means they're building genuine musicianship while learning context. The two-and-a-half-minute length makes it instantly programmable, yet substantial enough to feel like a real concert contribution.

What to expect

Brisk, clever, and genuinely musical. The piece moves with narrative purpose, transforming historical period styles into a forward-moving conversation rather than a static museum display. Students experience accomplishment playing something that sounds coherent and intentional at the end.

Who it's for

Beginning band directors seeking concert material that educates and entertains simultaneously. Students in first-year band will find well-crafted parts that stay playable while contributing meaningfully to an ensemble sound.

How to get the most out of it

Shape each historical section as a distinct character. Even though the piece moves quickly, taking time in rehearsal to contrast the medieval, Renaissance, and modern idioms will make the journey feel intentional rather than rushed.
Balance the texture so melodic ideas cut through. Many passages layer multiple lines at Grade 1, so careful section balance keeps the narrative clear rather than muddy.
Use this piece to introduce historical context before rehearsal begins. A two-minute discussion of what students will hear makes the musical choices resonate immediately.

How to use it

Open a concert with this piece to frame a thematic program around music history, or place it early in a mixed-level concert where it will engage audience members unfamiliar with beginning band sound. Its brevity also makes it ideal for festival programs where timing is tight.