An American Fanfare: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Arranged by Rick Kirby
Grade: 4
Item: 35-PK00124991
$75.00
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Description
In this dynamic concert opener, Rick Kirby incorporates the normally hymn-like strains of "America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee)" into a fast and energetic fanfare. The actual melody is stated only once in its entirety, and many liberties are taken with both melodic and harmonic elements of the original. Breathtaking! Dur: 1:40
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00124991
More about this title
About the Arranger: Rick Kirby
Rick Kirby has established himself as a prolific composer and arranger for concert and marching ensembles, with particular skill in reimagining familiar American melodies within contemporary instrumental contexts. His arrangements balance accessibility with musical substance, making them popular choices for festival programming and concert season openers across school districts.
Why we love this
Kirby's approach here captures what makes a strong concert opener: immediate energy, clear architecture, and a familiar anchor that audiences recognize instantly. The single complete statement of the melody followed by harmonic and melodic reinterpretation gives your ensemble something substantial to execute while the fanfare framework keeps the pacing tight and the impact focused.
What to expect
The piece lives in the space between ceremonial reverence and unbridled excitement. You recognize the hymn in its opening moments, but Kirby quickly unleashes it, transforming something stately into something breathless and celebratory. It's the musical equivalent of a flag unfurling at full speed.
Who it's for
This works for Grade 4 concert bands that want to open a program with patriotic character without resorting to march conventions. It's particularly effective for spring concerts, pops programs, or festivals where you need something that sounds polished and substantial in under two minutes.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the opening fanfare gestures across your full instrumentation so the energy builds rather than blares. The familiar melody needs space to land when it arrives.
- Mark the liberties Kirby takes with both the melodic line and harmony during the second half. Your musicians will play with more confidence when they understand where he's departed from the original hymn tune.
- Keep the tempo steady and driven. At 1:40, any ritardandi or rubato will eat time quickly; trust the arrangement's structural momentum.
How to use it
Position this as your first piece when you want to establish a confident, energetic tone for the entire concert. The brevity and immediate audience familiarity make it an ideal gateway to more complex or contemporary repertoire you might program later. It also pairs well with other Americana-based selections if you're building a thematic set.
Skills your students will build
- Executing fast, articulate fanfare figures at sustained dynamic levels
- Balance and blend within section-specific material (brass-forward vs. woodwind-dominant passages)
- Tracking harmonic movement in familiar melodies through chromatic and altered reharmonization
- Maintaining ensemble unity and tempo precision in energetic passages