Five Mississippi Rush: Concert Band Conductor Score

$15.00 USD

Five Mississippi Rush: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: Five Mississippi Rush: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-RWS210901
Price: 15.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Clifton Taylor

Grade: 5

Item: 98-RWS210901

$15.00

Shipped

One moment…

Beginning with a snare riff based on this audible football chant, the content of "Five Mississippi Rush" is inspired by its title. A five-Mississippi rush is often used in pickup football games where there is no offensive line and the defense has to count five "Mississippis" before rushing the quarterback. Cliff Taylor's use of five-note motives and five-element phrases combine with the melodic and harmonic language of the blues that is rooted in the State of Mississippi. This engaging work will appeal to both performers and audiences. Exhilarating throughout!

Original Item#: RWS-2109-01

Five Mississippi Rush: Concert Band Conductor Score isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.

No sample videos found.

Series: RWS - Symphony Band

Publisher: RWS Music Company

ISBN10: 1-4706-9790-4

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-9790-7

UPC: 038081613758

SKU: 98-RWS210901

More about this title

About the Composer: Clifton Taylor

Clifton Taylor brings a distinctive voice to band composition by weaving American vernacular traditions into concert music. His works often draw from cultural touchstones, whether sports, regional history, or street-level musicality, and translate them into engaging ensemble pieces that resonate with both young musicians and audiences.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Taylor taps into something immediate and recognizable here, threading a football field chant into concert band language without ever feeling gimmicky. The five-note motives and blues-inflected harmony give the piece real musical substance beneath its playful premise, and the energy is infectious enough to land with both audiences and students who might otherwise tune out a "novelty" work.

What to expect

Propulsive and playful, grounded in genuine blues color. The snare riff sits in your head immediately, and once the band enters, there's an urgency baked into every five-note phrase that keeps the energy rolling forward. It's exhilarating without ever feeling cheap or dumbed-down.

Who it's for

Band directors programming Grade 5 concerts who want a piece that engages both the ensemble and the audience without compromising musical integrity. This works equally well for groups seeking a fun opener or an entertaining closer that still demands real musicianship.

How to get the most out of it

Lock the snare riff introduction with precision; it's the hook that draws listeners in, so nail the articulation and dynamics before the band enters.
Balance the five-note motives across sections so the structural framework stays audible even as the texture thickens.
Lean into the blues language without overstyling it; let the harmonic language breathe naturally rather than pushing too hard on the "Mississippi" connection.
Keep the overall arc building steadily from the opening to the climax, treating the five-Mississippi concept as a tension device that propels the narrative forward.

How to use it

Position this as a concert centerpiece or opener where its novelty appeal and accessibility draw in a broad audience, then reward their attention with the sophistication of the harmonic language underneath. It pairs well alongside traditional concert fare, offering a refreshing tonal palette and a mood shift that keeps a program from feeling static.