Declaration and Dance: Trombone 2
By William Owens
Grade: 4
Item: 98-PC-DB1433_TN2
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Description
Experienced ensembles will take quickly to this exuberant, technical showpiece! With something for all sections, this work promises to deliver all the power and excitement that great band music should. Appropriate for any type of performance, it will satisfy even the most voracious musical appetite!
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Symphonic Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1433_TN2
More about this title
About the Composer: William Owens
William Owens has built a prolific composing career while maintaining deep roots in music education. A VanderCook College of Music graduate and former Texas high school band director with 30 years in the classroom, Owens brings direct knowledge of what works on the podium and what excites young musicians. His catalog exceeds 300 published works across concert band, string orchestra, and small ensemble literature, many of which appear on state required lists and in music education texts.
Recognized by peers through memberships in ASCAP, TMEA, and Phi Beta Mu International, Owens has received commissions from respected institutions including the American Bandmasters Association and South Plains College. His compositional approach balances technical ambition with practical accessibility, a philosophy earned through three decades of rehearsal room experience. He has been honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by VanderCook and received the Texas Bandmasters Association's Meritorious Achievement Award for his contributions to the field.
Why we love this
Owens writes for the specific strengths and limitations of high school bands with surgical precision. This piece delivers impressive technical and musical content across all sections without sacrificing the joy of performance, which is exactly what Grade 4 ensembles need when preparing for contests or major concerts. It's the kind of showpiece that stretches your musicians while keeping them engaged.
What to expect
The piece opens with declarative strength before shifting into rhythmic vitality and dance-like energy. Exuberant and propulsive, it offers moments of genuine musical substance alongside the technical excitement, keeping players and audiences engaged without exhaustion.
Who it's for
Grade 4 concert bands preparing for festival, contest, or concert performance. This work suits experienced ensembles with solid fundamentals and the stamina for technical material across the full instrumentation. Conductors seeking repertoire that showcases versatility and musicianship will find this a reliable choice.
How to get the most out of it
- Separate the declaration sections from the dance episodes in your mind during preparation; mark clear tempo and character changes in your score so the ensemble understands they're navigating two contrasting musical ideas.
- Balance the technical demands across sections by identifying which passages expose individual parts and schedule targeted sectionals well in advance.
- Work the rhythmic precision that festival adjudicators expect at this level; use a click track in full ensemble rehearsals to lock the ensemble together during the faster passages.
- Shape the dynamic arc across entire phrases rather than reacting to individual attacks; this piece rewards conductors who think architecturally about where the music builds and where it releases.
How to use it
Program this as your contest centerpiece or as the final work on a concert designed to showcase your band's technical capabilities. It pairs well alongside contrasting material in a concert setting; the energy and confidence it projects makes it an excellent choice for closing a program on a high note.
Skills your students will build
- Technical facility across all sections in both fast and moderate tempos
- Ensemble balance and blend when multiple sections carry thematic material simultaneously
- Dynamic contrast and shaping across longer musical phrases
- Precision in rhythmic unison and syncopated figures
- Articulation control and consistency across sustained passages