Barnum and Bailey's Favorite: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

This march carries genuine cultural weight; it's not just a concert piece but a piece of American musical history that your students will recognize and feel proud to perform. Schissel's editing respects King's original vision while clarifying the score for modern ensembles, and the Grade 5 setting makes it accessible without sacrificing the sophistication that makes the piece timeless.

Barnum and Bailey's Favorite radiates optimism and vitality. The opening strain brims with forward momentum, while the trio section shifts into something warmer and more lyrical, giving the ensemble space to breathe and phrase expressively before the final statement returns with renewed energy and confidence.

Concert bands in grades 5 and above looking for repertoire with immediate appeal and genuine musical substance. This works equally well for high school ensembles refining their march interpretation and middle school bands ready to tackle a piece that sounds impressive and feels rewarding to play.

• Balance the famous piccolo obbligato in the trio against the full band; this line needs to sing clearly without overpowering the harmonic foundation.
• Keep the march tempo steady and confident; King's harmonies are lush enough that rushing will muddy the sound, but dragging will lose the propulsive energy that makes the piece work.
• Shape the main strain with subtle dynamic swells to highlight King's melodic contours rather than playing it as a straight forte throughout.
• Give the low brass and tuba section room to bloom in the trio's supporting figures; their rhythmic precision drives the entire ensemble forward.

Open a concert with this piece to set an energetic, accessible tone that draws audiences in immediately. It also pairs well on a program that celebrates American band heritage alongside other marches or lighter classical works, and it's an excellent choice for festivals where judges value both technical accuracy and musicality.

• Maintaining steady march tempo while shaping long melodic lines
• Balance between exposed obbligato lines and supporting harmonic textures
• Phrasing and dynamic shaping in a tuneful, traditional context
• Secure ensemble intonation in both sustained passages and rhythmic figures
• Understanding period style and the conventions of American march form