Flying High: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Owens proves here that constraint breeds creativity. Working within a six-note palette could feel limiting, but instead he crafts something genuinely exciting that your students will feel proud to perform. The piece moves with infectious energy while remaining entirely accessible to beginning bands, making it an ideal choice for early-season programming or contests where musical impact matters more than technical complexity.

Flying High captures pure forward momentum. Sweeping melodies soar above robust harmonic support while crisp rhythms propel the music forward without pretension. A brief moment of lyrical warmth from the lower voices breaks the trajectory before the opening energy returns with even greater drive, building to a finish that feels genuinely victorious.

This piece suits beginner concert bands and young ensembles ready to move beyond fundamentals but not yet prepared for dense chromatic writing. It works equally well for bands beginning their year and those polishing repertoire for fall festivals or early competitions.

• Shape the opening melodic lines with clear phrase direction rather than playing each measure in isolation. Even with limited pitches, forward motion comes from singers' breath and conductors' gestures that point toward natural resting points.
• Balance the middle section by letting low brass and reeds breathe in their lyrical moment without rushing; this contrast makes the return to full energy land with greater effect.
• Maintain rhythmic crispness throughout, especially in the energetic sections. Clean attacks and releases on those simple rhythms will make the piece sound polished rather than thin.
• Use the return of the opening material as a chance to build intensity gradually. Small dynamic increases and slightly tighter articulation prepare the rousing finish without completely restarching the music.

Open a concert or festival appearance with this piece to set an upbeat, confident tone. Its brevity and high energy make it particularly effective as a closer on a mixed program, where it can energize both audience and ensemble. The accessible technical demands also make it ideal for showcasing how young musicians can perform with musicality and style when given well-crafted material.

• Sustaining forward melodic momentum within a limited pitch vocabulary
• Balancing melody and accompaniment across the ensemble
• Executing clean rhythmic articulation at energetic tempos
• Shaping contrasting sections through dynamics and phrasing
• Ensemble blend and unified attacks across multiple sections