Favorito: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Maudonnet's orchestration captures every ounce of charm from the original piano work while giving the full band genuine musical substance to play. A Grade 5 piece that sounds sophisticated and feels accessible is rare, and Favorito achieves both because the melodic writing is so strong that even straightforward harmonic and rhythmic accompaniment feels complete. This is the kind of arrangement that reminds students that concert band can swing.

Favorito dances. There's lightness and warmth in the harmonic language, a sense of stylistic confidence that comes from music rooted in actual popular tradition rather than imitation. The piece unfolds with the infectious charm of a social gathering where European sophistication and Brazilian spirit are equally at home.

Grade 5 concert bands looking for repertoire that sounds more sophisticated than its technical demands suggest. Directors preparing a Latin American unit or seeking material that celebrates musical genres beyond the standard European canon will find an authentic and genuinely engaging centerpiece here.

• Keep the pulse light and buoyant rather than marching. Nazareth's style sits between dance music and concert music, and the band should reflect that infectious bounce without losing refinement.
• Shape the melodic line with clear phrase arcs. Secondary passages are just as important as the main theme, and bringing out inner voices will reveal the harmonic sophistication Maudonnet preserved from the original.
• Balance the rhythm section carefully. Accompaniment figures support the melody but should never overshadow it; test balance in sectionals to ensure the reeds and brass carry weight proportionally.
• Use dynamics expressively rather than literally. The printed markings guide texture and color more than absolute volume; small adjustments within a dynamic level create the sway that defines this style.

Pair this with other works from the Latin American Music Project series to build a thematic concert that shows students the range and depth of non-European classical traditions. Its accessible difficulty makes it ideal for a spring concert or as the confident closer to an educational program on Brazilian music and culture.

• Recognizing and executing Brazilian rhythmic figures (particularly syncopation and samba-influenced patterns)
• Balancing melody and accompaniment across multiple instrumental families
• Interpreting stylistic nuance within classical forms adapted from popular music
• Coordinating ensemble precision while maintaining rhythmic lightness and swing