David Bowie: The Hits: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Three distinct moods woven seamlessly together: a disco-funk pulse, a haunting electronic reverie, and a stadium-sized rock collaboration. The medley moves between eras and emotional registers while maintaining forward momentum, giving your band room to shift character while staying locked in the groove.

Directors programming concert bands Grades 3 and up who want to connect with student musicians and audiences through music students already know. This works for mixed-ability ensembles because the arrangement distributes responsibility across the band without isolating weaker sections.

• Balance the rhythm section carefully in "Let's Dance." The funk groove lives in the precision of your percussion and low brass, so lock articulation and feel before adding upper voices.
• Shape the dynamic arch in "Space Oddity" to let the ethereal quality breathe. Avoid rushing this section; the transition from introspection to the final groove depends on restraint.
• Nail the unison hits that punctuate "Under Pressure." These moments define the rock energy, so mark them clearly in rehearsal and execute with commitment.

Program this as a centerpiece in a pop or contemporary music concert, where it anchors a set of other arranged hits. It also works beautifully as a spring concert closer, giving audiences familiar material they can sing along with while your band showcases versatility across three distinct styles.

• Funk and rock articulation within a concert band context
• Maintaining groove and rhythmic precision across style shifts
• Dynamic control and phrasing in lyrical sections
• Ensemble balance when voices layered with syncopated rhythms