Centurion: B-flat Bass Clarinet
By Mark Williams
Grade: 1 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0000249_CBC
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Description
This Mark Williams best seller has become a standard in the repertoire for very young bands everywhere. Set in a minor key and using only the first few notes learned in beginning band, this imaginative piece will become a favorite of band members and the audience. Correlated with Accent on Achievement, Book 1, page 10.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Centurion: B-flat Bass Clarinet 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:
Accent on Achievement
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
118
SKU:
00-PC-0000249_CBC
More about this title
About the Composer: Mark Williams
Mark Williams shaped elementary band education through both pedagogy and composition. As co-author of the Accent on Achievement Band Method and a prolific composer with over 200 published works, he understood exactly what young musicians could accomplish at each stage of learning. His teaching career in Washington schools and his work as a clinician and guest conductor across 34 states, five Canadian provinces, and Australia gave him deep insight into the real needs of beginning ensembles.
Beyond the classroom, Williams was an accomplished performer on bassoon and arranger for the 560th Air Force Band, as well as conductor and artistic director for the Spokane British Brass Band. His compositions for band, orchestra, and choir earned recognition including the Western International Band Clinic's Gralia Competition and multiple ASCAP Special Awards. Williams held degrees from Eastern Washington University and brought the perspective of both musician and educator to every piece he wrote.
Why we love this
Williams wrote this piece with the beginner's limited note vocabulary in mind, yet created something genuinely musical that audiences respond to. The minor key gives it character and sophistication that surprises listeners when they hear it coming from a Grade 1 ensemble. Band directors return to Centurion year after year because it builds student confidence while sounding polished enough for any concert.
What to expect
Centurion carries a solemn, purposeful character. The minor key lends it dignity despite the simplified instrumentation, creating an almost processional quality that holds the audience's attention. Students feel accomplished playing something this substantial at Grade 1 level.
Who it's for
Beginning band directors who need repertoire that meets students where they are while still delivering genuine musical satisfaction. This piece is ideal for elementary or middle school bands in their first year, particularly those using the Accent on Achievement method.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape phrases even with limited note range. Young students often miss the opportunity to breathe musically and shape longer lines; guide them to listen for the peak of each phrase and pull back slightly toward cadences.
- Establish a clear pulse in rehearsal before focusing on articulation and dynamics. Without secure rhythm, all other musical elements struggle.
- Balance tone across the ensemble rather than letting stronger sections drown out weaker ones. In a Grade 1 piece, clarity and blend matter more than volume.
- Allow space for the audience to hear the minor tonality. Resist the urge to rush; slightly deliberate tempos let the harmonic color register.
How to use it
Program this early in a concert or as an opening number to establish focus and set a musical tone. It pairs well with lighter, contrasting pieces later in the program, or works beautifully as the first major selection in a full concert of Grade 1 repertoire. Its brevity makes it useful for festival or contest appearances where time is limited.
Skills your students will build
- Playing in minor tonality and recognizing its character
- Sustaining phrases across multiple measures with limited notes
- Ensemble balance and blend in a full band setting
- Responding to conductor cues for dynamics and articulation
- Concert performance discipline and stage presence