Aquia Hills: (wp) 3rd B-flat Trombone B.C.
By Gary Fagan
Grade: 3.5 (Medium)
Item: 00-PC-0001824_wpTN3BC
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Description
An ethereal opening features solo alto saxophone leading to a tuneful and poignant legato theme. The second half of the piece features a rhythmic driving Allegro that leads to a rousing conclusion. (5:25)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Aquia Hills: (wp) 3rd B-flat Trombone B.C. comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
280
SKU:
00-PC-0001824_wpTN3BC
More about this title
About the Composer: Gary Fagan
Gary Fagan's compositions have traveled from the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic to performances at the White House and a gubernatorial inauguration, establishing him as a significant voice in American band literature. His 36-year tenure as a band director in Albemarle County shaped both his pedagogical philosophy and his compositional voice, grounding his work in the realities of school ensembles. He holds degrees from Bridgewater College and James Madison University, where he later served as adjunct faculty teaching arranging.
Fagan's contributions to music education extend across multiple roles. He has earned recognition as Central Virginia's Outstanding Middle School Teacher, received honors from the Virginia Governor's School for the Visual and Performing Arts and the Piedmont Council of the Arts, and appears twice in "Who's Who Among America's Teachers." Active in professional organizations including MENC, the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association, and the National Band Association, he continues as a clinician, adjudicator, and percussionist with the Charlottesville Band, where he also serves as Assistant Director.
Why we love this
Fagan crafts a structure that rewards both performers and audiences: the atmospheric alto saxophone solo draws listeners in immediately, then the legato theme gives your band genuine musical substance to shape. The second-half pivot to a driving Allegro provides exactly the kind of energy shift that sustains engagement, making this work as compelling in a contest setting as it is in a concert program.
What to expect
The opening establishes a dreamlike atmosphere through the solo alto saxophone, almost like watching a landscape emerge from mist. As the legato theme enters, the mood becomes contemplative and tender, drawing the ensemble into unified expression. The Allegro arrives with purposeful energy and forward momentum, transforming the piece into something triumphant and celebratory.
Who it's for
Bands at the 3.5 grade level who have secure fundamentals in balance and phrasing but are ready to tackle contrasting sections and character shifts within a single work. This score suits programs seeking repertoire that bridges accessibility with musical substance, appropriate for both concert and festival contexts.
How to get the most out of it
- Bring out the solo alto saxophone in the opening with careful balance from the ensemble; the ethereal quality depends on hearing that line with clarity and space around it.
- Shape the legato theme with long-line phrasing rather than waiting for natural breathing points in the parts; encourage players to think in four- or eight-bar spans.
- Lock the tempo transition into the Allegro crisply; rehearse the rhythmic driving passage separate from the lyrical material to establish the new pulse with confidence.
- Reserve dynamic reserves for the rousing conclusion; avoid spending all your energy earlier so the final section lands with genuine impact.
How to use it
Use this as a centerpiece in a concert that benefits from tonal variety; it works beautifully adjacent to either a boisterous opener or a quiet closer. The 5:25 duration and varied character make it equally valuable in festival competition, where it demonstrates musicianship without demanding the most advanced technical facility in the room.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing solo lines against ensemble accompaniment
- Sustaining legato phrasing across multiple measures
- Executing clean tempo transitions between contrasting sections
- Shaping dynamic arcs within a lyrical theme
- Articulating rhythmic precision in driving passages