Excelsior!: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Owens crafts marches that actually sound like marches, and this one delivers immediate payoff. The structural clarity (full theme statement, then a contrasting section with real countermelody writing) gives young musicians something to latch onto and perform with confidence, while the military drum and bugle call gesture adds distinctive color without overcomplicating the arrangement.

Excelsior! launches straight into muscular forward motion, full of the bright confidence of a military march. The drum and bugle call momentarily breaks the stride with something more angular and dramatic, introducing woodwind melody with real character before the whole ensemble surges toward an exciting finish.

Grade 2 concert bands preparing for contests or festivals need marches that balance accessibility with genuine musicality. Young players benefit from the straightforward narrative arc here, and directors will appreciate how efficiently Owens moves through material without sacrificing musical substance.

• Establish the march tempo early in rehearsals and maintain it strictly through the drum and bugle passage. Young bands often rush here out of excitement, so lock the pulse with the percussion section first.
• Balance the euphonium countermelodies carefully against the woodwind melody. They should sit just below the top line, providing harmonic support rather than competing for attention.
• Shape the opening theme with clear phrase endpoints. The energy comes from the rhythm and articulation, not from pushing the dynamic; let the natural momentum of the march carry the forward motion.
• Build the final section gradually by bringing in sections on cue rather than having the full band enter all at once. This gives the conclusion genuine excitement rather than just volume.

Lead off a contest set with this piece. Its energy and clear structure establish band confidence immediately, making it an ideal opener that showcases fundamentals while leaving room for deeper repertoire to follow. It also works well as a non-traditional season closer when you want something celebratory rather than introspective.

• Maintaining steady march tempo and rhythmic precision in a traditional form
• Balance and blend when accompanying a melody line
• Articulation control in fast-moving passages
• Sectional independence, particularly in the countermelody section
• Dynamic shaping within a march idiom