Casey at the Bat: Score
By Randol Alan Bass
Grade: 5 (Difficult)
Item: 00-PR-0001418
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Description
Casey at the Bat is based on the well-known poem of the same title, first published in San Francisco during the late 1800s by Ernest L. Thayer. This musical version of the famous story was commissioned by the Dallas Symphony and was given its first performance by that ensemble in April, 2001, with Pat Sajak serving as narrator. The composer subsequently arranged the work for wind ensemble at the request of Col. Michael Colburn, director of the "President's Own" Marine Band in Washington, DC. (6:30)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Casey at the Bat: 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:
302
SKU:
00-PR-0001418
More about this title
About the Composer: Randol Alan Bass
Randol Alan Bass is a composer whose work spans orchestral, wind, and choral genres, with commissions from major ensembles including the Dallas Symphony. His compositional approach balances accessibility with musical substance, creating works that engage both performers and audiences across multiple performance contexts.
Why we love this
Bass transforms a beloved American narrative into a concert piece that works equally well with a narrator or as pure instrumental storytelling. The Grade 5 writing offers sophisticated sectional writing and programmatic clarity without overwhelming your ensemble, making it an ideal centerpiece for a concert that needs both substance and broad audience appeal.
What to expect
Spirited and theatrical without sacrificing musical integrity. The piece captures the tension and drama of Thayer's poem through orchestral color and pacing, moving from the anticipation of Casey's at-bat through moments of triumph and defeat. It's the kind of work that reminds audiences why band concerts matter.
Who it's for
Concert band directors seeking a substantial programmatic work that showcases their ensemble's musicality while entertaining a general audience. Grade 5 students will find the technical and interpretive demands satisfying, and the narrative element engages younger and less experienced players who might otherwise tune out longer forms.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish clear communication with your narrator during rehearsals. Mark cues for the narrator in the conductor score so entrances and orchestral responses land together.
- Balance the programmatic elements (musical depictions of action, suspense, dramatic moments) with ensemble precision. The story carries momentum; let your section leaders feel when to push and when to pull back.
- Shape phrasing across the full 6:30 runtime with intentional breath points. This length demands that musicians understand the arc of the narrative so they don't lose focus midway through.
- Audit your woodwind and brass doublings early in rehearsal. At Grade 5, some players will carry thematic material; make sure exposed lines are secure before ensemble balance becomes the focus.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece or closing number for a concert themed around American music, literature, or sports. Its 6:30 length and audience-friendly subject matter make it particularly effective when building a program that needs to balance repertoire depth with accessibility for community attendance.
Skills your students will build
- Listening to and responding to a narrator while maintaining ensemble cohesion
- Interpreting programmatic musical narrative through phrasing and articulation
- Balance and blend across varied instrumental doublings and configurations
- Sustaining focus and musical shape across extended forms (6:30)
- Coordination of multiple musical ideas occurring simultaneously