Extremis: Concert Band Conductor Score

Standridge crafts a visceral concert opener that actually delivers on its dramatic promise without requiring advanced technical facility. Grade 2 ensembles rarely get music this theatrically effective, and your students will feel the impact of their own performance in ways that safer repertoire simply cannot provide.

Dark and primal, anchored by trombone glissandi that slide through harmonic space like warning calls. The tribal chanting emerges from a brooding foundation, layered with shimmering chime textures that create an unsettling, hypnotic atmosphere. This is aggressive music that never loses focus.

Band directors seeking Grade 2 literature with genuine concert impact and a willingness to embrace theatrical programming. This work suits ensembles ready to explore extended techniques and unconventional timbres without sacrificing ensemble unity or intonation fundamentals.

• Shape the trombone glissandi with intention; they should feel deliberate and controlled, not accidental. Work your bass trombonists through the specific passages at a comfortable tempo first, then build confidence with full articulation.
• Layer the tribal chanting gradually during rehearsals. Begin with isolated sections speaking the rhythmic figure, then add pitched instruments one family at a time so the ensemble understands its role in the overall texture.
• Let the extended chime effects breathe. Resist the urge to fill silences; the effectiveness of these sonorities depends on space and resonance. Conduct with clarity so players understand the relationship between their entry and the sustained sounds around them.
• Mark dynamic transitions in your score clearly. The shift from aggression to brooding intensity requires ensemble cohesion, and consistent conductor cues will ensure no one drifts during these crucial moments.

Open your concert with this piece to establish a bold, confident tone that signals your ensemble is ready for serious repertoire. Alternatively, close the first half with Extremis to send audiences into intermission with genuine unease and anticipation. Either way, position it where it has breathing room; pairing it with another aggressive work or soft, contrasting piece allows each to shine.

• trombone glissando technique and control
• ensemble balance with non-traditional instruments (chimes)
• rhythmic precision in chanting sections with pitched instruments
• dynamic shaping and transitions between contrasting textures
• listening to sustained harmonic sounds while maintaining independent parts