Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young Charms: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Marlatt's orchestration distributes the melody strategically across the band, giving multiple sections a chance to carry the tune while keeping young players engaged with meaningful accompaniment parts. The piece works equally well as a concert feature or a calibrating warmup, making it a rare addition that earns its spot in rehearsal time either way.

Gentle and unhurried, this arrangement captures the warmth of a well-loved folk melody without sentiment. The flowing motion between instruments creates a sense of continuity, as if the tune is being passed hand to hand through the band.

Young concert bands working at the Grade 1 level will find this arrangement accessible yet musically rewarding. The piece suits ensembles building foundational skills in ensemble balance, phrase shaping, and melodic ownership across multiple sections.

• Balance the flute melody in the opening against the wandering clarinet and alto saxophone accompaniment; these parts should support without overshadowing the tune.
• When the melody transitions to the trumpets, ensure they maintain the lyrical quality established by the flutes rather than driving the tempo forward.
• Use this arrangement as a tuning reference across the band. The sustained harmonic foundation offers a stable foundation for checking intonation across sections.
• Shape the melodic line with gentle dynamic contours rather than playing at a static volume; the "flowing" character depends on subtle breathing and phrasing.

Include this on a concert program when you want a moment of lyrical beauty that contrasts with more energetic or technically demanding pieces. It also serves as an excellent bridge between rehearsal and performance; prepare it in sectional rehearsals as a tuning and balance exercise, then graduate it to concert repertoire.

• Playing sustained, flowing melodic lines with consistent tone quality
• Listening to and balancing against accompanying parts
• Coordinating phrase structure across multiple instrumental families
• Maintaining stylistic consistency when the melody transfers between instruments
• Intonation accuracy in harmonic contexts