Cedarwood Holiday: Flute
By Mark Williams
Grade: 1.5 (Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0001404_F1
$3.00
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Description
Take your students on a musical holiday with this engaging selection for young bands. This festive concert and contest overture features rich harmonies and rhythmic interest that will help make your group sound its very best. From the syncopated allegro of the opening to the lyric andante, this piece offers many opportunities for developing tone and expression. Highly recommended! (3:45)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Cedarwood Holiday: Flute 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:
Challenger Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
126
SKU:
00-PC-0001404_F1
More about this title
About the Composer: Mark Williams
Mark Williams built a career composing music that young musicians actually want to play. With over 200 published works for band, orchestra, and choir, he understood what makes a piece work in the rehearsal room and on stage. He co-authored the Accent on Achievement Band Method and spent years teaching elementary band in Washington state, which shaped his gift for writing accessible yet musically substantial pieces.
Beyond the page, Williams was a clinician and guest conductor who traveled to 34 states, five Canadian provinces, and Australia, sharing his knowledge with music programs everywhere. A skilled bassoon performer and arranger who served with the 560th Air Force Band, he later conducted the Spokane British Brass Band. His awards included recognition from the Western International Band Clinic's Gralia Competition and multiple ASCAP Special Awards. Williams earned degrees from Eastern Washington University and grounded his compositional voice in a deep understanding of both pedagogy and performance.
Why we love this
Cedarwood Holiday delivers exactly what young bands need: a piece that sounds sophisticated and festive without overwhelming developing players. The writing balances harmonic richness with rhythmic vitality, giving every section memorable moments to shine while keeping the technical demands reasonable. At 3:45 with both concert and contest applications, this work earns its place in your rotation and your students' confidence.
What to expect
Cedarwood Holiday captures the warmth of a holiday gathering without saccharine sentimentality. The opening allegro bounces with syncopated energy that feels fresh, while the andante section invites players to settle into genuine lyricism and explore deeper tone colors. The arc moves naturally from festive brightness to quiet reflection, creating an emotional journey rather than just a seasonal decoration.
Who it's for
This conductor score and parts package works for middle school and early high school concert bands at Grade 1.5 level. It suits programs preparing for winter concerts or festival appearances and fits bands with mixed ability levels who need accessible repertoire that doesn't sound thin.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the syncopated allegro opening with clear articulation and consistent pulse; the rhythmic interest becomes muddy if players lose track of the underlying beat.
- Bring the lyric andante to life by coaching tone production throughout the ensemble; this section reveals which students understand how to phrase melodically across longer lines.
- Balance the full sound by checking that inner voices carry harmonic weight rather than fading; the rich harmonies only work when every part is heard.
- Use dynamic contrast as your primary tool for building energy and shape; the piece's success depends on clear peaks and valleys, not volume alone.
How to use it
Program this as a concert-opening piece to set an engaging, upbeat tone for winter or holiday concerts. Its dual eligibility for both concert and festival competition also makes it ideal when you want a single piece to serve multiple programming purposes across your calendar.
Skills your students will build
- Syncopated rhythm reading and execution in multiple parts
- Phrasing and tone production in lyrical contexts
- Balance and blend when voices carry harmonic material
- Dynamic shaping and musical direction across longer formal sections