Behemoth: 2nd Percussion
By Adrian B. Sims
Grade: 2.5
Item: 00-PC-0019221_PC2
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Description
This ominous soundtrack underscores an adventurer's search and eventual battle with a large, monstrous creature. From the opening distant lines to moments of pure adrenaline and raw power, Behemoth constantly embraces danger before a heroic last stand results in victory. An amazing and intense work by Adrian B. Sims! (3:00)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Behemoth: 2nd Percussion 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:
MakeMusic Young Band
Publisher:
MakeMusic Publications
SKU:
00-PC-0019221_PC2
More about this title
About the Composer: Adrian B. Sims
Adrian B. Sims is a composer, conductor, and trombonist born in Seattle in 2000. His compositions have earned recognition at The Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and placement on the Bandworld Top 100 List. He has won awards in multiple composition competitions, including the Maryland Music Educators Association Young Composers Project and the Make Music Young Composers Contest, and his works have been rehearsed and performed by bands across Maryland.
Sims studies music education and composition at The University of Maryland, where he plays in the top brass ensembles and studies with Matthew Guilford, solo bass trombonist with the National Symphony Orchestra. His development as a composer reflects mentorship from Dr. Robert Gibson, Professor of Composition at The University of Maryland, and influence from world-renowned composer Brian Balmages. As a performer, he has played in pit orchestras, symphony orchestras, jazz ensembles, and concert bands, and was selected multiple times for the Maryland All-State Band during high school.
Why we love this
Sims crafts a narrative arc that unfolds naturally across three minutes, building from atmospheric tension through escalating action to a satisfying climactic resolution. The grade 2.5 difficulty makes it accessible without sacrificing orchestration depth or dramatic impact, making it equally rewarding for students and audiences. This piece sits perfectly in the sweet spot where younger bands can feel the visceral power of programmatic writing without struggling through technical complexity.
What to expect
Behemoth begins in shadow and mystery, with fragmented lines suggesting an unseen threat. As the piece progresses, tension mounts through rhythmic drive and orchestral layering, culminating in a muscular confrontation that resolves into triumph, leaving performers and listeners breathless.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the grade 2.5 level looking for a piece that combines narrative storytelling with genuine excitement. Directors seeking repertoire that works equally well in festival settings and regular concert programs will find a work that engages audiences while keeping technical demands manageable for developing ensembles.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the opening's ominous quality by balancing the distant melodic lines with restraint; clarity matters more than volume in these exposed passages.
- Mark the transitions between sections carefully in rehearsal so the ensemble recognizes when the mood shifts from exploration to danger to all-out conflict.
- Let the rhythm section anchor the accelerating passages so everyone can focus on the intensity without losing precision in the higher voices.
How to use it
Program this as the centerpiece of a thematic concert exploring adventure, heroism, or cinematic scoring. It pairs naturally with other programmatic works or can anchor a set of contest and festival pieces that showcase your ensemble's technical and musical range.
Skills your students will build
- Building and sustaining dramatic tension through dynamic control and phrase shaping
- Executing transitions between contrasting tempos and textures with ensemble precision
- Balancing independent melodic lines in exposed orchestrations
- Responding to programmatic narrative through musical characterization