Festivity: Concert Band Conductor Score

Owens understands what grade 2.5 ensembles can accomplish when the writing matches their developing technique. Festivity trades complexity for clarity without sacrificing character, delivering a concert opener that students can perform with confidence and energy. The combination of bold melodic statements and rhythmic drive gives even younger bands the sound of maturity.

Festivity pulses with unbridled enthusiasm, unfolding in bold melodic strokes and propulsive rhythms that feel celebratory without being frivolous. The piece moves with the confidence of a group that knows exactly where it's going, capturing the energy of a festival opener or season launch.

Grade 2.5 concert bands seeking a festival piece or concert opener that sounds substantially more polished than its technical demands suggest. This score works equally well for ensembles just beginning to balance independent parts and those solidifying their sectional blend.

• Lock the tempo early in rehearsals. The piece's energy comes from rhythmic precision, so establish a steady, driving pulse before addressing balance or phrasing.
• Balance the melody across sections rather than featuring a single voice. Owens scored this thematically to showcase the band's collective sound, so invite all players carrying the main ideas to step forward equally.
• Shape the dynamic contours decisively. At this grade level, students often play at one volume; encourage them to follow marked crescendos and diminuendos to build and release tension throughout.
• Bring clarity to the supporting rhythms in the lower voices. They anchor the piece's forward motion, so rehearse them separately and ensure they sit with confidence underneath the melody.

Open a concert or festival performance with this one. Its 2:29 duration and immediate accessibility make it ideal for setting an upbeat tone early, whether you're programming it before a substantial work or as the statement piece of a lighter concert. The piece also serves as an effective confidence builder when introducing students to contest environments.

• Balancing independent melodic lines across the full band
• Executing sustained dynamic changes (crescendo and diminuendo)
• Maintaining steady tempo while performing rhythmically active parts
• Sectional ensemble blend and intonation in mixed texture
• Coordinating articulation across parts to achieve unified rhythmic character