Call to Glory: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Del Borgo constructs this piece with real scoring intelligence for a Grade 2 ensemble. The strategic doubling of low brass and woodwinds reduces the technical burden on individual players while maintaining full, warm sonority; the kept second clarinet below the break and modest trumpet ceiling mean your section leaders can focus on shaping phrasing rather than managing technical survival. It reads as a substantial concert work, not a beginner arrangement.

Call to Glory carries the weight and dignity of a processional: stately, measured, and purposeful. The harmonic language feels grounded and patriotic, with enough harmonic color to sustain interest across its 3:50 duration without requiring technical virtuosity. It builds steadily toward a sense of triumph, creating genuine emotional momentum that young musicians can feel and audiences can recognize.

This score and parts set serves concert bands working at Grade 2 level who want repertoire that feels both ceremonial and achievable. It works equally well for ensembles preparing for contest or building a concert program that showcases the band's growing maturity without exposing technical limitations.

• Shape the processional character by keeping the tempo steady and allowing slight rubato at phrase endings rather than rushing the natural downbeats.
• Balance the low brass and woodwind doublings carefully; these voices carry the harmonic foundation, so they need enough weight to anchor the texture without overwhelming the thinner upper voices.
• Bring out any counter-melodic lines in the inner voices; Grade 2 writing often hides interesting voice leading that rewards attention during rehearsal.
• Let the final section build organically; resist the urge to accelerate, and instead increase dynamic intensity to create the sense of climax.

Program this as a concert opener if you want to establish a formal, impressive tone early; it sets a confident mood without asking your ensemble to execute complex technique right away. Alternatively, it works beautifully as a finale, where its processional character and building intensity leave audiences with a strong final impression. It also serves contest regulations well as a warm-up selection that allows judges to hear your band's control and musicality before more challenging repertoire.

• Sustaining long phrases with consistent intonation and tone quality
• Balancing doubled voicings to achieve blend without loss of individual voice clarity
• Responding to subtle dynamic shaping and rubato within a steady pulse
• Tuning octaves and unison passages in low brass and woodwind sections
• Reading and executing patriotic or ceremonial style with appropriate weight and restraint