Castle Bartizan: 1st Percussion
By Sarah Siegler
Grade: 1
Item: 00-PC-0019499_PC1
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Description
Travel back in time to the Middle Ages with this intensely energetic work, Castle Bartizan, by Sarah Siegler. The "bartizan" is a turret of a castle, built along the defensive wall, containing the castle guard. The stonework could be quite ornate while the function was to protect the guard from invaders. The accented minor melody describes the stonework and the importance of the guard standing "at the ready" in the castle bartizan.
The lyrical, contrasting sections depict the beauty and timelessness of ancient castles. The percussion, utilizing low tom-tom and tambourine combined with modal harmonies, gives the piece a medieval flare that will keep your students engaged and excited about the power of making music together. (2:25)
The lyrical, contrasting sections depict the beauty and timelessness of ancient castles. The percussion, utilizing low tom-tom and tambourine combined with modal harmonies, gives the piece a medieval flare that will keep your students engaged and excited about the power of making music together. (2:25)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Castle Bartizan: 1st Percussion 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:
Developing Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PC-0019499_PC1
More about this title
About the Composer: Sarah Siegler
Sarah Siegler brings together twenty years of ensemble directing experience with a deep commitment to accessible music education. Her background spans string orchestras in Connecticut and Wisconsin, and she has performed across multiple instruments—trumpet in marching and pep bands, violin in orchestras, and voice in choral settings. These diverse musical perspectives inform her compositional voice.
As the owner of Grand Mesa Strings and an active educational music publisher, Siegler channels her conducting background and performance experience into creating works that build student skills while remaining genuinely rewarding to perform. She earned a Master of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music Chicago and a Bachelor of Music Education from St. Olaf College.
Why we love this
Castle Bartizan delivers genuine programmatic interest without sacrificing accessibility. The medieval concept unfolds through concrete musical choices—the minor melody capturing ornate stonework, the modal harmonies and percussion colors building authentic atmosphere—rather than relying on narrative alone. Your students will engage with how specific instrumentation and harmonic choices create imagery, a skill that transfers far beyond this single piece.
What to expect
Medieval energy pulses through accented minor melody and modal harmony, evoking the tension of castle guards standing watch. Lyrical interludes open into moments of quieter beauty, capturing the architectural and historical grandeur of stone fortifications. The piece creates a vivid soundscape without overwhelming younger musicians.
Who it's for
Grade 1 concert bands looking for repertoire that balances accessibility with genuine musical substance. The level accommodates developing ensembles while the programmatic content and modal harmony offer enough sophistication to keep experienced directors engaged.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the accented minor melody so its character emerges clearly; the piece asks for intensity, but clarity of line matters more than volume.
- Blend the low tom-tom and tambourine in contrasting sections to establish the medieval sound world without letting percussion overwhelm the harmony underneath.
- Shape the lyrical passages with genuine legit, treating them as true melodic relief rather than a simple tempo change; this contrast anchors the programmatic narrative.
How to use it
Program this early in a concert to set an energetic tone, or use it as a bridge between classical repertoire and contemporary works that use programmatic writing. Its modest runtime (2:25) pairs well with a longer feature piece or allows for a thematic concert built around medieval or historical subjects. The contest/festival designation also makes it a strong choice for fall assessments and early season confidence building.
Skills your students will build
- Performing accented articulation with controlled precision
- Reading and executing modal harmony
- Balancing melody against complementary harmonic color
- Responding to programmatic context as performers, not just readers
- Coordinating percussion and pitched instruments as an integrated unit