Covenant: Timpani
By Vince Gassi
Grade: 3 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0018679_TMP
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Description
Musicians share an unspoken promise of musical support. This was the inspiration for Covenant, commissioned by the Nipissing University "Eddie" Band, comprised of students and adults aged 18 to 71 from the community of North Bay, Canada. Like the band's membership, Vince Gassi has crafted the themes and counter themes to weave together in musical support. Bold and bright, tender, and colorful---there's so much to savor. (2:45) 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, Covenant: Timpani 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:
Young Symphonic
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
149
SKU:
00-PC-0018679_TMP
More about this title
About the Composer: Vince Gassi
Vince Gassi has been composing and publishing music since 2006, building a catalog of over 100 works that balance accessibility with musical substance. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Western Ontario, studied composition and arranging at the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles, and earned his Ph.D. from York University in Toronto. His 25-year career in instrumental music education spans elementary and secondary levels across North America.
Gassi is recognized as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor throughout the United States and Canada. His workshop offerings on digital workflows and arranging concepts help music directors engage their ensembles in creative problem-solving. His compositions appear regularly on festival and contest lists, and his works have been performed across North America, Europe, and Japan, with frequent performances at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago.
Why we love this
Gassi wrote Covenant with a specific ensemble in mind, and that commission origin shapes every voice in the score. The piece honors musical collaboration across age and experience levels, reflecting the actual makeup of the Nipissing University band. What could feel like a novelty concept instead becomes genuinely moving: the thematic writing invites each section to listen and support one another, which means your students will hear exactly why they matter to the whole.
What to expect
Covenant opens with confidence and brightness, then reveals tender moments that feel reflective without becoming sentimental. The orchestration is colorful and varied, offering each section moments to shine while maintaining focus on how the parts fit together. At 2 minutes and 45 seconds, the piece unfolds with purpose, never rushed or bloated.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the Grade 3 level seeking repertoire that sounds mature without requiring advanced technique. This work suits mixed-ability ensembles, community bands with intergenerational membership, and groups preparing for festivals or contests.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the counter-themes carefully so that when they overlap, both lines remain audible. Encourage section leaders to listen across the band rather than solely to their own part.
- Attend to the dynamic range. Gassi marks both bold and tender moments, and the contrast between them will feel more impactful if you avoid settling into a middle dynamic throughout.
- Shape the themes as though they are conversations. Where one voice answers another, use small tempo and dynamic adjustments to clarify the musical argument.
- Use the recorded accompaniment available in MakeMusic Cloud to help your ensemble internalize the harmonic framework during sectional rehearsals.
How to use it
Program this as the centerpiece of a concert exploring collaboration and musical support, perhaps pairing it with repertoire that similarly highlights ensemble balance. Its moderate length and accessible grade level make it ideal for a festival performance or contest entry. It also serves well as a closing piece for a concert that celebrates your ensemble's growth and community.
Skills your students will build
- Listening to and balancing multiple simultaneous melodic lines
- Shaping thematic material with intentional phrasing and dynamic contrast
- Responding to cues and musical gestures from peers across the ensemble
- Reading Grade 3 concert band scoring and voice leading