Buenaventura: Score
By Steve Hodges
Grade: 3.5 (Medium)
Item: 00-PR-0000831
$10.00
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Description
Here is a high-powered piece that will provide your band with an excellent ventura! Featuring fast Latin percussion, lots of driving syncopations and even a short jazz section, your band will want to play this tune again and again. A great selection to close a concert or contest!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Buenaventura: Score 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:
Alfred Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
292
SKU:
00-PR-0000831
More about this title
About the Composer: Steve Hodges
Steve Hodges holds degrees from Western Oregon University (B.S.) and Central Washington University (M.A. in Music Education). After four decades directing bands, choirs, and chamber ensembles across public schools, he transitioned to full-time composition, producing over 120 concert band works published by Alfred Music since 1986.
His compositions have earned performances at state conventions, international festivals, and honor band events across North America. His music has also been featured on TBS and ESPN broadcasts. Hodges maintains membership in ASCAP and continues to participate in community music in The Dalles, Oregon, where he lives with his wife, Teddie.
Why we love this
Hodges writes music that balances polish with genuine fun, and this piece proves it. The Latin percussion and jazz section keep the ensemble engaged throughout, while the syncopation demands just enough precision to feel accomplished without overwhelming a solid Grade 3.5 group. Closing a concert with this guarantees audiences leave energized.
What to expect
This piece crackles with forward momentum. The Latin percussion creates an irresistible groove while driving syncopations keep the melody restless and propulsive. When the jazz section arrives, the energy shifts into something looser and more conversational before building back to full-ensemble intensity.
Who it's for
Grade 3.5 concert bands preparing contest or concert repertoire. Directors looking for a high-energy closer that engages both young players and audiences without requiring advanced technical facility.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the Latin percussion groove early in rehearsal. Once your rhythm section locks the feel, the syncopations in the front sections will sit naturally on top.
- Bring out the jazz section as a moment of stylistic contrast. Encourage soloists to lean into swing feel and phrasing rather than straight rhythmic precision.
- Balance the fast Latin passages with clear articulation in the low reeds and brass. Muddy low parts will bury the driving syncopation you want to project.
How to use it
Reserve this for your final slot. Its infectious groove and stylistic variety make it the ideal closer for either a concert program or festival performance, leaving the audience with energy and enthusiasm. It pairs well with more traditional selections earlier in the program, providing a refreshing contemporary feel.
Skills your students will build
- Syncopated rhythms in Latin style contexts
- Jazz articulation and swing feel
- Ensemble groove and rhythmic cohesion in fast tempos
- Balancing melodic phrasing over driving accompaniment