Bullets and Bayonets: Concert Band, Score and Parts

$55.00 USD

Bullets and Bayonets: Concert Band, Score and Parts

Name: Bullets and Bayonets: Concert Band, Score and Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 36-10100275
Price: 55.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By John Philip Sousa, ed. Frederick Fennell

Grade: 4

Item: 36-10100275

$55.00

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BULLETS AND BAYONETS is held by a legion of march afficionados to be one of the best in Sousa's legandary output; many believe it to be his best. Examination of the full score, available for the first time here, reveals this so-solidly constructed music to be conceived in the maturity expected of so experienced a composer. He dedicated the 1918 march "To the officers and men of the U.S. Infantry."

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Bullets and Bayonets: Concert Band, Score and 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: Fennell Editions

Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.

ISBN10: 1-57891-777-8

ISBN13: 978-1-57891-777-8

UPC: 746241202697

SKU: 36-10100275

Instrumentation: Concert Band

More about this title

About the Composer: John Philip Sousa

John Philip Sousa (1854, 1932) shaped American band music as both composer and conductor. His marches defined the genre and remain central to concert band repertoire; his melodic gift, structural clarity, and orchestration for winds set the standard that composers still follow today.

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Why we love this

Sousa wrote this march at the height of his powers, and it shows. The construction is flawless, bold thematic material, elegant harmonic movement, and strategic orchestration that gives every section meaningful moments. It's a march that rewards careful attention to balance and phrasing, making it ideal for groups ready to move beyond relying on rhythmic drive alone.

What to expect

Dignified and purposeful without bombast. The melody carries genuine warmth, the harmonies shift with intelligence, and there's a sense of forward motion that feels organic rather than mechanical. It's the sound of a composer in complete control of his material.

Who it's for

This march suits Grade 4 bands with solid fundamentals and the maturity to handle lyrical phrasing alongside rhythmic precision. It works equally well for contest preparation, concert programming, or groups studying Sousa's craftsmanship at an intermediate level.

How to get the most out of it

Respect the lyrical quality of the trio section; this is not a march to be played fast or aggressively. Let the melody breathe and shape the accompaniment accordingly.
Balance the inner voices in the first strain. Sousa's orchestration is sophisticated, and secondary themes deserve clarity without overwhelming the main line.
Lock the tempo between sections, but allow slight flexibility around major cadential moments to let the harmonic resolutions land fully.
Use dynamics to sculpt the overall arc rather than playing at a constant volume. The second time through material should feel different from the first.

How to use it

Position this as the centerpiece of a Sousa-focused concert, or pair it alongside lighter marches to demonstrate range within the genre. It also works as a festival contest selection where judges reward musical maturity and ensemble control.