Civil War Roundtable: Percussion 1
Arranged by Timothy Loest
Grade: 1.5
Item: 98-PC-DB1869_PC1
$7.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
The nostalgic sounds of the American Civil War come to life in this anthology of sentimental ballads, spirited anthems, and authentic military fife, bugle, and drum calls. Featured songs include The Irish Volunteer, Aura Lea, and The Battle Cry of Freedom. An interdisciplinary work well suited for concert, contest, or military holiday programming.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Civil War Roundtable: Percussion 1 comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Open in the Player
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Start Your Free Trial
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series:
FJH Developing Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1869_PC1
More about this title
About the Arranger: Timothy Loest
Timothy Loest brings three decades of classroom experience to every score he creates. A prolific composer and arranger, he has built a reputation for writing accessible, musically sophisticated works performed by young ensembles across the country. His compositions have reached national audiences through television appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Good Morning America, and in 2017, his concert work Cloud Gate drew over 5,000 listeners at Chicago's Millennium Park. That year, the Illinois Grade School Music Association honored him with the Cloyd Myers Memorial Award for Excellence in Music Education.
Loest's pedagogical credentials run deep. He co-authored several foundational band methods including Measures of Success: A Comprehensive Musicianship Band Method and the Warm-ups and Beyond series, works that shape rehearsal practices in thousands of programs. His publishing relationships span major houses including FJH Music Company, C.L. Barnhouse, and Warner Bros. Publications. In 2022, he founded Fanfare Music Press to curate compositions and arrangements of the highest caliber for young musicians. Loest holds degrees from Illinois State University and Northwestern University, maintains ASCAP membership, and continues to accept commissions for band at all levels.
Why we love this
This anthology succeeds because it respects the source material without overwhelming young players. Loest strips each tune to its essential character, allowing period-appropriate harmonies and accessible ranges to shine through for musicians reading at 1.5 level. The inclusion of authentic military calls alongside sentimental favorites gives your band genuine historical texture, turning what could be a shallow nostalgic exercise into something layered and educational.
What to expect
Walking through a Civil War encampment in late afternoon light. The music carries both solemnity and community warmth, with straightforward melodies that feel lived-in rather than studied. Sentimental without sentimentality, these arrangements evoke the human stories beneath the history.
Who it's for
Concert bands performing at grades 1.5 can program this anthology without extensive technical preparation. Conductors seeking repertoire that bridges historical content and accessible musicianship, or those building thematic concerts around American history and patriotic observances, will find these arrangements particularly useful.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melodic line with restraint in the harmony parts. These sentimental pieces live or die on the beauty of their singability, not thick orchestration.
- Treat the military fife and drum calls as interludes between songs rather than accompaniment figures. Let them breathe and establish their own distinct character.
- Shape each phrase with the gentle momentum of a marching processional, even when the ensemble sits in concert seating. The military idiom carries a forward pulse that young players often forget to maintain.
How to use it
Position this as a concert centerpiece for Presidents' Day, Veterans Day, or Patriotic concert programming. The shorter movements function well as standalone items within a mixed program, or perform the entire anthology as a cohesive work. The modest technical demands make it an excellent choice for a program that pairs this with more technically demanding works from upper-level ensembles.
Skills your students will build
- Phrasing in diatonic melodies with period-appropriate articulation
- Ensemble blend in simple harmonic contexts
- Historical awareness and cultural literacy around American music
- Reading straightforward concert band voicings at 1.5 level