Contraption: (wp) B-flat Baritone B.C.
By Brendan McBrien
Grade: 2.5 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0001262_wpBBBC
$3.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
Contraption is a tone poem describing an imaginary machine of great size and power. The word "contraption" is defined as "a device or machine regarded as strange, incomprehensible, or makeshift." This concept has been applied to the construction of this musical composition. The creation of this piece was accomplished in the same way an inventor might build a physical contraption, in this case limited to three main component "parts" plus an interlude. A very unique and appealing piece! (3:40) 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, Contraption: (wp) B-flat Baritone B.C. 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:
Young Symphonic
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
131
SKU:
00-PC-0001262_wpBBBC
More about this title
About the Composer: Brendan McBrien
Brendan McBrien began his musical life in Sunnyvale, California, where he picked up French horn in 4th grade. He completed his bachelor's and master's degrees in music composition and conducting at California State University, Long Beach, then spent more than three decades as a professional French horn player with orchestras throughout Los Angeles and Orange County, performing for symphonies, television, and film scores.
McBrien's compositional output has been published by Alfred, Kendor, Kjos, and Wingert-Jones Music Companies and performed by ensembles around the globe. He has served as a clinician, adjudicator, and honor group conductor, earning recognition as Middle School Teacher of the Year from the Irvine Unified School District. Since 1988, he has directed bands and orchestras at Rancho San Joaquin Middle School and teaches music arranging at Cal State Long Beach. McBrien lives in Irvine with his wife Karen and their three children.
Why we love this
Contraption captures the playful absurdity of imaginary machinery in sound. Rather than building tension through conventional drama, McBrien constructs his tone poem like an inventor assembling a strange device: three distinct musical components plus an interlude come together to form something unexpected and delightful. The Grade 2.5 scoring respects ensemble capability while delivering genuine sophistication in orchestration.
What to expect
Contraption invites listeners into the workshop of some fantastical engineer. Mechanical sounds emerge, interact, and transform; the music sparkles with curiosity and humor rather than weightiness. There's a sense of genuine discovery as each section reveals itself, culminating in the interlude that momentarily pauses the contraption's motion before it resumes.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the middle school and early high school level will find this piece accessible and engaging. Directors seeking material that challenges students musically without overwhelming them technically will appreciate McBrien's thoughtful Grade 2.5 scoring.
How to get the most out of it
- Listen closely to how the three main sections function as distinct "parts" of the machine; each should have its own tonal character and tempo profile before the interlude brings them into relationship.
- Pay attention to dynamic contrast between sections to heighten the sense that different mechanical elements are engaging and disengaging.
- Use the 3:40 recorded accompaniment as a reference for pacing; the piece's sense of whimsy depends on clean articulation and rhythmic precision throughout transitions.
How to use it
This works beautifully in a light concert context or as a standalone opener that signals audiences the band is about to have fun. It pairs well with other contemporary concert band literature that emphasizes character and orchestration over pure technical display, making it ideal for spring concerts or family audience events.
Skills your students will build
- Articulation contrast between sections (staccato vs. legato playing)
- Ensemble intonation under shifting tonal centers
- Dynamic shape and balance within mechanical accompaniment figures
- Transition clarity when moving between distinct structural sections