Climb the Mountains Tall: 1st B-flat Clarinet
By Vince Gassi
Grade: 2 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0015320_C1
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Description
Inspired by "The Dream," a poem by Darren Clayton, this work reflects the spirit of adventure necessary to journey to new places and new experiences. After a bold introduction, the flutes, oboe, and bells present a heroic melody with supporting roles provided by the baritone and snare drum. The full band then joins in and expands on the theme, energy building all the while. We journey briefly through a minor key and a slower, more contemplative section. With a transition back to the main theme, and a change of key, we boldly approach the exciting conclusion of our travels. (3:15) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Climb the Mountains Tall: 1st B-flat 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:
Challenger Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
212
SKU:
00-PC-0015320_C1
More about this title
About the Composer: Vince Gassi
Vince Gassi has been publishing with Alfred Music since 2006 and has become a prolific voice in the concert band repertoire, with over 100 titles in print. His work as a composer, conductor, and clinician reflects a deep understanding of what engages young musicians at every level. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Western Ontario and studied composition and arranging at the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles before completing a Ph.D. at York University in Toronto.
Gassi brings twenty-five years of classroom experience to his writing, having taught instrumental music at both elementary and secondary levels. He serves as a frequent guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician across the United States and Canada, and his compositions appear regularly on international concert and contest lists. His seminars on creative engagement and digital workflows in music education reflect his commitment to helping both students and directors grow musically and pedagogically.
Why we love this
Gassi understands the Grade 2 band perfectly. The architecture here is smart: a bold opening draws immediate attention, the heroic melody is accessible and memorable for your flutes and oboes, and the full band entrance delivers the payoff without requiring virtuosic technical demands. The journey through a minor key and contemplative section gives your ensemble something musically substantive to shape, while the key change approaching the finale creates genuine excitement without gimmickry.
What to expect
An expedition in sound. The piece moves you from intrepid adventurer through moments of wonder and reflection before arriving at a triumphant destination. The writing carries genuine momentum without sacrificing the lyrical quality that keeps young musicians engaged in the performance itself.
Who it's for
Grade 2 bands ready for a concert piece with real musical substance and dramatic arc. This works equally well for groups developing confidence in their ensemble sound and those preparing for contest or festival play.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the bold introduction carefully so it commands attention but leaves room for the heroic melody to shine when the flutes and oboe enter.
- Use the minor key section to work on dynamic control and blend; this slower, reflective passage rewards sensitive phrasing from your band.
- Bring out the supporting roles of baritone and snare drum in the opening statement; these colors establish the piece's character early.
- In the full band sections, maintain clarity in the expansion of the main theme rather than letting the texture blur as energy builds.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece in a concert focused on journeys or growth, pairing it with lighter concert openers or contrasting slower selections. Its three-minute-fifteen-second length and dramatic shape make it equally effective as a festival contest selection or the anchor of a thematic program.
Skills your students will build
- Executing bold, controlled attacks and releases in ensemble contexts
- Balancing countermelodies and supporting harmonic roles within a full band texture
- Shaping phrases through key and harmonic change, particularly in the transition sections
- Responding to dynamic and tempo shifts while maintaining rhythmic cohesion
- Creating blend and balance when entering as a full ensemble after exposed solo and small-group writing