Aragon 1945-1952 (Dance Suite): V. Accentuate: Concert Band Conductor Score

Optimistic and swinging, with the casual sophistication of a 1940s jazz standard. The orchestration captures Mercer and Arlen's melodic gift while giving the band plenty of room to breathe and the conductor clear opportunities to shape the phrasing.

Concert bands at the Grade 4 level looking for a finale that delivers both entertainment and musical substance. This movement works equally well for groups comfortable with the ARAGON suite or as a standalone selection for directors seeking repertoire rooted in American song.

• Lean into the rhythmic vitality of the Mercer-Arlen melody. The charm lives in crisp articulation and committed phrasing, not in rushing the tempo.
• Balance the solo voices and accompaniment carefully. This movement works best when the featured lines cut through without the band drowning them out.
• Shape the dynamics to echo the song's conversational quality. Let phrases breathe naturally rather than staying locked at one volume level.

Program this as a concert closer when you want to leave audiences smiling without resorting to marches or pops arrangements. It pairs beautifully with more serious contemporary works or classical repertoire, providing tonal contrast while maintaining genuine artistic merit.

• Balancing solo and ensemble textures
• Jazz-influenced articulation and phrasing
• Responding to conductor interpretation of a recognizable melody
• Sustaining musical phrase shape across dynamic changes