Before the Dawn: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$65.00 USD

Before the Dawn: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Before the Dawn: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-51004
Price: 65.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Liliana Alarcon / arr. Timothy Loest

Grade: 2

Item: 00-51004

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Inspire your students with music created by one of their peers! Seventh-grade composer Liliana Alarcon wrote Before the Dawn, and arranger Timothy Loest collaborated with her on this dreamy work that opens with reflective dissonance and then shifts to pure sonic joy. A simple piano part, doubled on vibraphone, adds to the ethereal soundscape. Uplifting! (2:45)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Before the Dawn: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: MakeMusic Young Band

Publisher: MakeMusic Publications

ISBN10: 1-4706-6510-7

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-6510-4

UPC: 038081583334

SKU: 00-51004

More about this title

Why we love this

Repertoire written by student composers carries real weight in the rehearsal room. When your band learns music authored by someone close to their own age, suddenly the creative process feels tangible and achievable. Alarcon's voice here is mature and confident, moving gracefully from introspection to joy in under three minutes, and the orchestration (especially that doubled piano and vibraphone) creates an accessible yet sophisticated soundscape that ensemble directors at this level rarely encounter.

What to expect

Before the Dawn unfolds like a slow awakening. It begins in hushed, slightly unsettling harmonic territory, as if listening to the world in those quiet moments before sunrise. Then something shifts. The texture brightens, the melodic lines open, and light floods in. The vibraphone shimmer and piano support create an almost impressionistic haze that feels both dreamlike and alive.

Who it's for

Band directors working with Grade 2 ensembles who want to program work that sparks conversation about composition and creativity. This piece resonates with middle school and early high school bands curious about the music-making process and eager to play repertoire that feels contemporary and relatable.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the opening dissonance carefully so it reads as deliberate reflection rather than tuning issues. The vibraphone and piano doublings need to sit slightly forward without overwhelming the winds.
Shape the transition to the "pure sonic joy" section with a clear but unhurried tempo adjustment. This pivot should feel earned, not abrupt.
Use the 2:45 duration to your advantage in concert pacing. Its brevity makes it ideal for opening a set or pairing with contrasting works without strain.
Highlight the piano part during rehearsals. Many young players have limited exposure to keyboard doublings in the band setting, and bringing attention to this orchestrational choice builds appreciation for orchestral color.

How to use it

Open a concert with this piece to set a contemplative mood, or use it as a palette-cleansing interlude between heavier works. Its modest duration and accessible grade level make it perfect for festival programming, and programming young composer works alongside established repertoire sends a powerful message about where music comes from and who gets to write it.