Contempo: 2nd Percussion

Story writes with a conductor's ear for what works in the rehearsal room. The soloistic moments are well-cued and genuinely musical (not just technical showcases), the percussion writing drives energy without overshadowing the ensemble, and the three-minute-plus arc gives you real material to shape and interpret without demanding an extended rehearsal commitment.

Contempo balances contemporary sensibilities with the clarity of traditional concert band writing. The piece moves with purpose and energy, punctuated by moments where individual voices emerge from the texture, creating a listening experience that's engaging for both players and audiences.

This is ideal for Grade 2 bands ready to program original concert music with real musical substance. It works equally well for a festival submission or a concert slot where you want something contemporary and well-written without material that's simply decorative.

• Balance the soloistic passages so they sing above the ensemble foundation; these moments define the piece's character, so secure them early in rehearsal.
• Give the percussion section clear cues for their entrances, particularly around transitions where the texture shifts. The accompaniment patterns will settle faster if the rhythm section feels confident.
• Shape the overall arc across the full length rather than treating sections as isolated blocks. This helps the three-minute form feel inevitable rather than episodic.
• Attend to the concrete scoring details Story provides. They're there deliberately to create the specific sound world he intends.

Program this as a centerpiece for a concert featuring original works by Story or contemporary band composers. Its length and Grade 2 accessibility make it a natural choice for mid-season programming, and the festival designation means it's equally suited for contest preparation or a regular concert setting.

• Balancing solo voices against ensemble accompaniment
• Executing clean section transitions with precision
• Responding to cued entrances under performance tempo
• Maintaining rhythmic clarity in textures with active percussion accompaniment
• Shaping phrasing across longer musical lines