Entrada (An Overture for Band): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Entrada hits that rare sweet spot where the architecture of the piece teaches form while the music itself demands respect from your ensemble. The contrast between those snappy marcato bookends and the singing middle section gives students something to aim for musically, not just technically, and the two-minute duration means you can program it confidently without eating up valuable rehearsal time.

Entrada announces itself with crisp, marching energy before opening into a melody that lets the band breathe and sing together. The return to the bold opening feels like coming home, giving the piece a satisfying sense of shape and completion.

Grade 1 bands preparing their first concert or filling a program slot that calls for something straightforward and musically substantial. Directors working with ensembles still building fundamental skills will appreciate how Story's writing prioritizes clarity without sacrificing musical interest.

• Shape the marcato opening with consistent articulation across the full band. The boldness comes from clarity and synchronization, not volume.
• Let the flowing melodic section breathe. This is where your ensemble demonstrates maturity; resist the urge to rush.
• Balance the return to the A section so it lands with authority but doesn't overshadow what came before. The recapitulation should feel inevitable, not repetitive.

Open a concert with this to establish control and confidence, or place it after a slower opener to demonstrate range. At two minutes, it pairs well with a longer feature piece or serves as a standalone anchor in a program built around thematic programming.

• Recognizing and performing A-B-A formal structure
• Sustaining contrasting articulation styles (marcato vs. legato)
• Balancing full ensemble dynamics and blend
• Executing clean section entries and transitions