By the River's Edge: B-flat Tenor Saxophone
Multi-Level Parts for Beginning Band
By Robert Sheldon
Grade: 0.5 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0018602_TX1
$3.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
Brimming with tuneful melodies and rhythmic textures, Robert Sheldon's By the River's Edge exudes feelings of confidence and pride, while also providing moments of introspection. Additionally, everyone has parts that are fun to play! This item consists of Grade .5 parts to play along with the printed printed version (00-48128) that is a Grade 2.5.
These multi-level parts are available for bands with players of varied levels of ability and allow less experienced musicians to play along on pieces that have printed parts for more advanced ensembles. Perfect for massed band concerts, performances that combine middle school and high school groups, or for supplying specific players a less demanding part when needed. Please refer to the recording for the printed version By the River's Edge (00-48128). (4:00)
These multi-level parts are available for bands with players of varied levels of ability and allow less experienced musicians to play along on pieces that have printed parts for more advanced ensembles. Perfect for massed band concerts, performances that combine middle school and high school groups, or for supplying specific players a less demanding part when needed. Please refer to the recording for the printed version By the River's Edge (00-48128). (4:00)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, By the River's Edge: B-flat Tenor Saxophone 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 Digital Concert Band
SKU:
00-PC-0018602_TX1
More about this title
About the Composer: Robert Sheldon
Robert Sheldon stands among the most frequently performed composers for wind bands in the world. His works appear regularly on concert and contest schedules across the globe, and his compositions have been heard in prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Orchestra Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House. Sheldon has received honors from the American School Band Directors Association, Phi Beta Mu, and ASCAP, and was granted an honorary doctorate from VanderCook College of Music in 2020.
Beyond composing, Sheldon serves as lead author of Sound Innovations for Concert Band and maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor for all-state and regional honor bands. He regularly appears as a clinician at universities and state music education conferences, and has conducted and taught throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. His prolific output continues to generate new commissions and publications each year.
Why we love this
Sheldon writes with genuine understanding of mixed-ability ensembles, and these simplified parts prove it. You get the same piece your advanced musicians are playing, just with realistic demands for younger or less experienced players, which transforms what could be a sitting-out situation into genuine musical participation. The tuneful melodies and accessible rhythmic language mean your less experienced players actually enjoy rehearsing alongside the main ensemble.
What to expect
By the River's Edge unfolds with quiet confidence, offering moments where your musicians can breathe and reflect before surging forward again. The piece balances tuneful melodies that sit comfortably under the fingers with rhythmic textures that keep the ensemble engaged and moving forward.
Who it's for
These Grade 0.5 parts serve ensembles blending musicians of varied experience levels at massed band concerts or combined middle and high school performances. They work equally well when you need to provide individual players a less demanding part due to instrument switching, illness, or significant skill gaps within a section.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the Grade 0.5 parts so they support the harmonic foundation without overwhelming the more complex textures above them; these simplified lines anchor the piece for developing musicians.
- Use the recording of the Grade 2.5 version as your rehearsal reference, even when working extensively with the simplified parts, to ensure all musicians internalize the same overall shape and character.
- Highlight moments of introspection in sectional rehearsals with your less experienced players, encouraging them to listen to the Grade 2.5 musicians and match the emotional quality rather than just the notes.
How to use it
Reserve this for concerts where you're combining ensembles of different experience levels or featuring players across a wide skill range. It works beautifully as a closer to a mixed concert, where the sense of pride and shared accomplishment gives everyone a meaningful role in a piece worthy of the program.
Skills your students will build
- Playing sustained melodic lines that support harmonic function
- Listening to more complex textures while maintaining a simpler part
- Responding to expressive conducting in moments of introspection
- Building confidence through accessible rhythmic and melodic material