Best of the West!: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Featuring: I'm On My Way (from Paint Your Wagon) / The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly / The Magnificent Seven
Various / arr. Michael Story
Grade: 3 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0007776
$72.00
One moment…
Description
A rollicking medley of four popular, contrasting western movie themes including: "I'm On My Way" (from Paint Your Wagon), "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," "Blazing Saddles," and "The Magnificent Seven." It just can't get any better. So grab your popcorn . . . Gitty up! Ride 'em cowboy!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Best of the West!: 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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Additional Details
Series:
Pop Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
238
SKU:
00-PK-0007776
More about this title
About the Arranger: Michael Story
Michael Story has established himself as one of the most prolific and respected arrangers for concert band, with a catalog spanning classical transcriptions, popular music, and original compositions. His work is known for maintaining musical integrity while making pieces accessible to student ensembles, and he has a particular gift for creating high-energy arrangements that engage both players and audiences.
Why we love this
Story's arrangement captures the swagger and humor of these iconic western themes without sacrificing musicianship. The contrasting sections keep energy high throughout, and the Grade 3 scoring gives every section meaningful material—there's no coasting here. Your band gets to experience genuine compositional sophistication wrapped in music they'll actually want to play.
What to expect
From the moment the opening theme kicks in, listeners are transported to dusty trails and wide-open skies. The music bounces between sweeping heroic moments and comedic interludes with infectious momentum, capturing both the grandeur and the tongue-in-cheek fun that defined these classic film scores.
Who it's for
This arrangement works beautifully for concert bands at the early intermediate level seeking repertoire with immediate appeal and musical substance. Directors programming a spring or pops concert will find this energizes audiences while remaining genuinely engaging for student musicians to rehearse and perform.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melody across the ensemble during the transitions between themes. One theme ending and another beginning can blur together unless you shape each entrance with clarity and intention.
- The comedic timing matters as much as the notes. Lean into the rhythmic vitality of the Blazing Saddles section; let your musicians feel the playfulness without losing precision.
- Articulation defines character across all four themes. Spend rehearsal time making sure staccato passages snap consistently and legato sections breathe as a unified voice.
- Don't let the 'Grade 3' label fool you into underplaying dynamic contrast. The Magnificent Seven theme especially benefits from bold dynamics that create shape and drama.
How to use it
Slot this into a pops concert as an opener or closer that sets a fun, approachable tone for the evening. It also serves well as a feature piece later in the year when your ensemble has warmed up to medium-difficulty literature and can handle style contrast without feeling rushed.
Skills your students will build
- Articulation clarity across melodic and rhythmic figures
- Stylistic flexibility (moving between heroic and comedic character)
- Musical phrasing and dynamic shaping in thematic development
- Section balance and ensemble listening across multiple contrasting themes
- Tempo security in a medley format with distinct tempo changes