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Call to the Heroes: Flexible Band/String Ensemble Score

$10.00 USD
$10.00 USD
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Call to the Heroes Cover Image
Call to the Heroes: Flexible Band/String Ensemble Score

Call to the Heroes: Flexible Band/String Ensemble Score

By Chris M. Bernotas

Grade: 1.5

Item: 00-50420S
$10.00
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Description
This version of Call to the Heroes, by Chris M. Bernotas is part of our Alfred FLEX offerings and is designed with maximum flexibility for use by any mix of instruments---wind, strings, and percussion, including like- or mixed-ensembles with as few as 4 players. The suggested instrumentation and a customizable Teacher Map will help you plan out how to best assign parts to suit your ensemble's needs. It also comes with supplemental parts for maximum flexibility. With the purchase of this piece, permission is granted to photocopy the parts as needed for your ensemble. A percussion accompaniment track is also available as a free download. String parts have been carefully edited with extra fingerings and appropriate bowings to support students in mixed ensembles playing in less familiar keys.

Call to the Heroes, by Chris M. Bernotas, was inspired by the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and the heroic acts of the first responders. Heroes surround us in life; this piece pays tribute to our everyday heroes, such as our parents, teachers, and peers. Alfred's FLEX band offers parts for any mix of instruments to suit your band's needs. (2:10) Correlates to Sound Innovations for Concert Band Book 2, Level 3.

Percussion Accompaniment Track Downloads:
with click
without click

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Additional Details
Series: Sound Innovations Series for Band
Publisher: Alfred Music
ISBN10: 1-4706-7999-X
ISBN13: 978-1-4706-7999-6
UPC: 038081604282
SKU: 00-50420S

More about this title

About the Composer: Chris M. Bernotas

Chris M. Bernotas

Chris M. Bernotas directs instrumental publications at Alfred Music, where his quarter-century in music education informs every project he creates. His compositions reach ensembles worldwide, from beginners finding their footing to accomplished groups seeking substantive repertoire that balances musicality with clear pedagogical intent.

Bernotas brings classroom experience directly into his writing. He regularly conducts honor groups and clinics, translating what he learns from working with students and teachers into scores that address real needs: accessible parts that don't condescend, emotional content that engages young musicians, and practical flexibility for ensemble constraints. His published works include Sound Innovations Ensemble Development, Sound Percussion, Sound Artistry, and Sound Performance.

Why we love this

The FLEX instrumentation system removes the usual logistics headache, letting you deploy exactly what you have without rewrites or compromises. String parts include thoughtful fingerings and bowings for players crossing keys they might not know well, which means your mixed ensemble actually sounds cohesive from rehearsal one. The piece carries genuine weight, inspired by 9/11 first responders but broadened to celebrate everyday heroes, so students feel they're playing something that matters.

What to expect

The piece opens with a clear, purposeful melody that feels both contemporary and grounded in familiar harmonic language. Modest in length but substantial in intent, it conveys respect and warmth without sentimentality, making room for young musicians to invest themselves emotionally.

Who it's for

Programs with mixed instrumentation or uncertain ensemble makeup benefit most from this score. It's ideal if your roster fluctuates, if you're building a younger ensemble, or if you want a patriotic piece that doesn't require every student to hold an instrument you don't have.

How to get the most out of it

  • Use the included Teacher Map to assign parts before the first rehearsal. Preview your instrumentation there, and you'll avoid on-the-fly transpositions or confusion about who plays what.
  • Download the free percussion accompaniment track with click and work it into sectional rehearsals. Rhythm section confidence makes the entire ensemble settle faster.
  • Highlight the string fingerings in your parts during the first read-through. Most students won't naturally look for them, but calling attention to them prevents intonation drift in less familiar keys.
  • Balance the opening gesture between your brass and strings so the thematic statement lands with clarity. Neither section should overwhelm; this piece depends on both.

How to use it

Program this for a winter or spring concert when you want a thematic anchor that speaks to something beyond technique. Pair it with lighter fare on the same program to balance its reflective tone, or make it the centerpiece of a shorter concert celebrating service and community.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading and performing with mixed instrumentation at Grade 1.5 level
  • Executing string bowings and fingerings in less familiar keys
  • Balancing ensemble parts across wind and string sections
  • Responding to accompaniment track timing and phrasing
  • Sustaining focus through a sustained, thematic melodic line

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