Amidst The Still Mountain Air: Concert Band Score & Parts

The opening unfolds like morning light breaking through fog, quiet and unhurried. A delicate dance emerges, spiraling gently through shifting melodies before everything settles into stillness. The piece breathes with the natural world, never rushed, always introspective.

Grade 2 concert bands seeking repertoire with genuine artistic substance. This work rewards ensembles ready to engage with expressive phrasing and lyrical playing, not just technical facility. It works equally well for students beginning to explore the connection between music and storytelling.

• Encourage your winds to shape the opening Celtic airs with rubato; this music asks for flexibility and breathing room rather than metronomic precision.
• Draw out the contrasting textures between the tender opening and the delicate dance section. Let students hear how McKinney uses orchestration to create different moods within the same piece.
• Balance the mixed motifs in the middle section so no single line overwhelms the ensemble. The 'floating in the mist' quality depends on transparent voicing and careful dynamics.
• Slow the final settling of the mountain air section just slightly to emphasize its closing beauty. A gentle ritardando here lets the image land.

This works beautifully as a concert opener, setting a reflective tone that contrasts with more energetic selections. It also serves as a strong closing piece if you want to leave your audience in a contemplative mood. Consider pairing it with other nature-inspired works for a thematic program.

• Expressive phrasing and dynamic shaping in lyrical writing
• Reading and performing rubato and flexible rhythms
• Ensemble balance in transparent textures with layered motifs
• Sustaining musical focus in slower, delicate passages