Flying High: B-flat Trumpet

Owens has mastered the art of writing immediately gratifying music for young ensembles without sacrificing musicality or sophistication. This piece proves his point beautifully: the constraint of six notes becomes an asset rather than a limitation, forcing elegant orchestration and rhythmic clarity that make every section shine. Directors will find this works brilliantly as an opener or closer, and students get to play something genuinely contemporary that sounds polished and energetic on day one.

Buoyant and confident. The piece soars with sweeping melodic gestures supported by crisp rhythmic pulses and warm harmonic underpinning, creating an immediate sense of forward motion. The brief lyrical section offers a moment of introspection before launching into the triumphant finish, leaving both performers and audience energized.

Beginning and early intermediate concert bands looking for a high-impact opening piece that showcases ensemble sound without overwhelming younger players. The six-note limitation makes this ideal for groups establishing fundamentals of tone, balance, and articulation while still programming genuinely contemporary music.

• Balance the melodic material between upper voices and the crisp rhythmic foundation in the lower instruments; the sweeping lines need space to breathe without losing the piece's forward momentum.
• Shape the lyrical section by allowing the low brass and reeds their moment of contrast; this brief respite from the opening energy actually heightens the impact when the main theme returns.
• Emphasize precision in the rhythmic figures throughout. With limited pitch material, rhythm and articulation become your primary colors; tight ensemble work in these passages will make the piece sound far more mature.
• Drive toward the rousing finale without rushing. Let the accumulation of energy in the closing section build naturally through careful dynamic control and ensemble clarity.

Open a concert with this to set an uplifting tone and demonstrate your ensemble's musicality to an audience. Its brevity and contemporary idiom also make it perfect as a counterpoint to standard repertoire on a program mixing classic and modern works, or feature it in a festival contest setting where judges appreciate writing that honors young players' abilities.

• Balanced orchestration across limited pitch material
• Articulation clarity and rhythmic precision
• Dynamic shaping and phrasing in sweeping melodic lines
• Ensemble balance between melodic and harmonic voices
• Stylistic contrast between energetic and lyrical sections