Ashford Celebration: Score
By Ralph Ford
Grade: 2 (Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0002128
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Description
Ralph Ford has scored a jubilant overture for your young band. Even though this one sounds difficult, it comes together easily once the unique driving rhythms are conquered. There is broad use of diverse percussion textures and powerful melodic material. (4:38)
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Additional Details
Series:
Belwin Young Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
318
SKU:
00-PR-0002128
More about this title
About the Composer: Ralph Ford
Ralph Ford is a prolific composer and arranger whose catalog spans over 250 published works for orchestra, concert band, jazz ensemble, and marching band. Born in 1963, he has divided his career between university teaching (15 years on faculty at Troy State University) and exclusive composition for the Belwin division of Alfred Music, where he continues to create arrangements and original scores for ensembles at every level.
Beyond the concert hall, Ford's versatility extends into media production, broadcast, and commercial work. His professional experience includes scoring for television and radio, composing news packages for national affiliates, conducting live productions, and producing recordings. He began his arranging career at fifteen and earned his Master of Science degree in 1988 while serving as a fulltime faculty instructor. His music has been performed by university, military, professional, community, and school ensembles worldwide.
Why we love this
Ford's overture delivers genuine excitement without requiring advanced technique from your ensemble. The piece hinges on locking the rhythmic foundation, which becomes an outstanding ensemble-building exercise; once your section intonation and rhythmic precision align, the result is a performance that sounds polished and confident. The percussion writing gives you textural variety and color while keeping the technical demands reasonable for Grade 2 musicians.
What to expect
Jubilant and propulsive, this overture moves with infectious energy. The interplay of diverse percussion textures creates an open, contemporary sound while the strong melodic writing gives the band moments of genuine brightness and pride.
Who it's for
Grade 2 concert bands preparing for festival or contest performance. This score works well for ensembles that have secure fundamentals but are still building confidence in rhythmic independence and ensemble cohesion.
How to get the most out of it
- Isolate and rehearse the driving rhythms in small sections before putting them together with melody. Have students count aloud through the unique patterns until they internalize the pulse.
- Experiment with the percussion textures during sectional rehearsals. This piece offers multiple opportunities for different players to contribute distinctive colors; make sure each percussion part is heard clearly.
- Balance the powerful melodic material across your band. Identify which sections carry the primary themes and ensure they project without overshadowing the harmonic foundation beneath them.
How to use it
Program this as a contest or festival entry where you want your band to sound energetic and together without pushing into advanced harmonic or technical territory. It pairs well with a lyrical ballad or slower work on a concert, offering strong contrast in mood and momentum. Consider it as a season opener to establish rhythmic excellence early in the year.
Skills your students will build
- Executing complex driving rhythms with precision and ensemble unity
- Balancing independent percussion textures within the full band sound
- Projecting melodic material while maintaining harmonic support
- Coordinating rhythmic accuracy across multiple sections simultaneously