Alexander's Ragtime Band: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Irving Berlin / arr. Tom Johns
Grade: 2.5
Item: 98-DB1101
$45.00
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Description
Irving Berlin's famous tune gets a swinging ragtime treatment from veteran writer Tom Johns. After an opening statement from the percussion section, the theme is heard and developed throughout the entire band. Feature your first chair musicians in a small dixie band soli. You'll need the bones on the tailgate for this one. (2:00)
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Young Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DB1101
More about this title
About the Composer: Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin (1888, 1989) stands as one of America's most prolific and enduring songwriters, composing over 1,000 songs across a career spanning eight decades. His gift for melody and his instinct for what audiences wanted made him a dominant force in musical theater and film, producing standards that remain part of the cultural backbone of American music. Berlin's ability to write singable, memorable tunes that work equally well in concert halls and on the street made his music ideal for music education.
Why we love this
Tom Johns captures the swagger and infectious energy of Berlin's tune without overcomplicating it, making this accessible for intermediate bands while keeping the ragtime idiom front and center. The featured dixie band soli give your strongest players a moment to shine and add personality to what could otherwise be a straightforward chart. This works beautifully as a palate cleanser in a concert program or as an upbeat closer that sends the audience out smiling.
What to expect
Snappy and playful, with the rhythmic bounce of early-20th-century ragtime. The arrangement swings between ensemble statements and smaller group moments, keeping the energy moving and giving the band room to breathe while the melody stays in your ear.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the Grade 2 to 2.5 level looking for repertoire that entertains without requiring virtuosity. Ensembles that want to program a recognizable tune that audiences connect with immediately, and that gives section leaders and soloists chances to step forward.
How to get the most out of it
- The percussion opening sets the groove for everything that follows. Make sure your drum section locks in tight before the theme enters; a dragging or rushing intro will undermine the whole arrangement.
- Feature players in the dixie soli need clarity and rhythmic confidence. They're carrying the melody here, so they should sound like soloists, not just first chairs playing their regular parts.
- Emphasize the syncopation without making it sound stiff. Ragtime rides on a bouncy, almost conversational feel; even the straight parts benefit from a light touch.
- The bones on the tailgate are a textural detail that pays off big. If you don't have a bones player, a wood block can work, but commit to whatever percussion color you choose and let it speak.
How to use it
This works especially well as a lighter programming choice alongside more substantial concert pieces, or as a finale that leaves audiences in good spirits. It's also effective in pops concerts or community band events where the blend of a famous tune and period style appeals to a broad audience.
Skills your students will build
- Syncopated rhythms and ragtime phrasing
- Balancing melody and accompaniment in larger ensemble contexts
- Solo articulation and confidence in featured passages
- Stylistic interpretation within a specific genre framework