Chesapeake: Score
By Jerry Brubaker
Grade: 3 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0002078
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Description
Inspired by the beautiful and bountiful Chesapeake Bay in the Maryland and Virginia areas of the United States, Jerry Brubaker begins this odyssey on a quiet morn, with sounds of gulls riding the winds above gentle waves. The sections of this suite are entitled "Chantey," "Power," and "Sail and Festival." With nautical flavorings throughout, CHESAPEAKE is a celebration of nature's gift to all who live on, work on, or simply enjoy the waterways of our great nation. (6:54)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Chesapeake: 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:
Belwin Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
292
SKU:
00-PR-0002078
More about this title
About the Composer: Jerry Brubaker
Jerry Brubaker is a prolific composer and arranger whose catalog spans concert band, wind ensemble, and educational settings. His works are known for clear orchestration, accessible harmonic language, and strong connection to programmatic themes that engage both performers and audiences.
Why we love this
Brubaker captures a genuine sense of place without resorting to bombast. The three-movement design gives your band architectural breathing room, while the Grade 3 difficulty keeps the focus on musical storytelling rather than technical struggle. Programming this means your ensemble performs something that sounds substantial and evocative within reach of a developing band.
What to expect
A guided journey along the water from dawn through activity and into celebration. The music breathes with natural phrasing, carries hints of maritime heritage, and ultimately feels open and reflective rather than strained or overly dramatic.
Who it's for
Band directors seeking a concert work that balances musical substance with accessibility. This suite works equally well for developing ensembles that need to build ensemble cohesion through lyrical playing and for intermediate bands looking for a program piece with genuine character.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening quietly and deliberately. The gulls and gentle waves need space to be heard; resist the urge to fill silence with sound.
- Balance the nautical thematic material across sections so no single voice overwhelms the imagery. This is a tone poem, not a showcase for soloists.
- Use the sectional breaks between movements to reset the ensemble's energy and let the mood shift naturally rather than rushing through transitions.
- Pay attention to Brubaker's dynamic markings as structural signposts. The journey from quiet morning through 'Power' to the celebratory 'Sail and Festival' finale relies on your control of contrast.
How to use it
Program this as a standalone concert work or pair it with a march and a lighter closer for a balanced concert. The six-minute length fits perfectly in a full-length band concert without overwhelming younger musicians or consuming your rehearsal budget on a single piece.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining long melodic lines with consistent tone and phrasing
- Responding to programmatic cues and musical imagery
- Balancing ensemble dynamics across mixed instrumentation
- Transitioning between contrasting musical sections and moods
- Playing with rhythmic flexibility that serves expression rather than metronomic precision