Engage: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Gassi writes for young bands with genuine joy and momentum. Engage delivers the rhythmic drive and melodic charm that make his pieces so rewarding to teach, never asking for more maturity than a 1.5 grade level can offer while still sounding polished and complete on the podium.

Engage captures the joy of a young ensemble finding its voice. It bounces with rhythmic vitality and lilting charm, swinging between bold, confident passages and lyrical moments that let soloists shine. The overall effect is infectious and fun, exactly what the title promises.

Beginning and developing concert bands (grades 4-7) looking for repertoire with genuine personality and forward momentum. This piece works equally well for bands stepping up to their first contests or concert festivals and those seeking a crowd-pleasing opener that doesn't require advanced musicianship.

• Lock in the lilting 3/4 feel early in sectionals. The piece thrives on a relaxed but propulsive swing, not a march-like stiffness.
• Let the bold, rhythmic sections breathe through clear articulation in the woodwind lines; these moments carry the energy forward.
• Balance the lyrical passages so the melodic voices sing above the accompaniment without the ensemble losing the underlying pulse.
• Trust the dynamic shape. Gassi's contrasts between bold and lilting create natural peaks; resist the urge to flatten them out.

Open a concert with this piece to set an energetic, positive tone immediately. Its approachable level and guaranteed audience appeal make it a strong choice for festival or contest programs where you want to showcase your band's musicality and polish without overshadowing younger players.

• Conducting and playing in 3/4 with forward momentum and relaxed swing
• Balancing articulation and legato across contrasting sections
• Maintaining dynamic clarity in rhythmic versus lyrical textures
• Shaping musical phrasing through ensemble awareness rather than individual part complexity