Crimestoppers: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Murtha captures the distinctive character of each theme while keeping the orchestration transparent enough for Grade 3 bands to execute with confidence. The medley format lets students experience a satisfying arc of contrasting material in a single piece, and the cultural resonance of these crime show themes connects immediately with audiences of all ages.

Energetic and cinematic. The piece pulses with the urgency and intrigue of television crime drama, shifting between memorable hook melodies and driving rhythmic underpinnings. It's fun and immediately recognizable, with the kind of forward momentum that keeps audiences leaning in.

Concert bands at the intermediate level looking for accessible repertoire with real audience appeal. Directors seeking contemporary material that engages both students and listeners without requiring advanced technical demands.

• Balance the melody line across your sections in the opening Law and Order statement; this theme works best when the audience hears it clearly above the accompaniment.
• Mark tempo changes between medley sections in advance with your students. Transitions between themes demand precision, especially if you're making cuts or adjusting pacing.
• The percussion parts carry rhythmic momentum throughout. Check that your battery locks the energy level during the more driving CSI sections.
• Encourage your winds to shape phrases even within these short, punchy theme fragments. The writing is lean, so every note counts.

Pair this in a pops concert or end of semester program where you want to bridge the gap between classical repertoire and music that resonates with student culture. The four and a half minute runtime makes it ideal as a standalone opener or closer on a mixed concert.

• Executing clean section transitions within a medley format
• Playing distinctive articulation patterns (staccato and legato contrast in television theme writing)
• Responding to tempo and style shifts
• Balancing melody and accompanying parts at a moderate technical level