Curtain Up!: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Four contrasting pieces at Grade 1 gives you a complete concert without the hunt for matching difficulty levels. Each composer brings a distinct voice, so your students experience stylistic range while staying firmly within their technical reach. You get professional-quality writing from established composers at a price that makes full programming accessible.

This collection swings from triumphant march energy to clever musical quotation, then pivots toward contemporary flair before settling into reflection. You hear the hand of experienced composers throughout, even in the straightforward Grade 1 writing.

Beginning concert bands that need four solid pieces for a complete program without purchasing multiple collections. Directors balancing repertoire selections across multiple ensembles will appreciate the Grade 1 consistency and musical quality here.

• Start rehearsals with Parade of the Gladiators to establish ensemble energy; its straightforward rhythmic drive helps younger bands find collective pulse quickly.
• Balance the tempo in Ten Masters in Two Minutes carefully so the references remain clear without rushing through the musical references.
• Funtango rewards attention to articulation; crisp tongue work and lift in the rhythm section bring out the character that the title promises.
• Gettysburg benefits from space and control in the slower passages; resist rushing and let the harmonic movement speak.

Program these four consecutively to showcase your band's range in a single concert, opening with pageantry and closing with substance. Alternatively, distribute them across separate performances throughout the year, using the stylistic variety to match different concert themes or seasonal programming.

• Reading and executing rhythmic patterns across four contrasting musical styles
• Sustained tone control in slower, more lyrical passages
• Articulation clarity in marcato and staccato contexts
• Ensemble balance when playing supporting harmonic material versus featured melodic lines
• Tempo flexibility and listening skills in pieces with varying harmonic rhythms