French Suite: Concert Band, Score and parts

Nelhybel's approach here is refreshingly direct: he takes five genuine French folksongs, each with its own character and story, and assembles them into a single rondo movement that feels cohesive rather than patchwork. The orchestration changes meaningfully with each tune, giving every section of the band—horns in the hunting song, woodwinds and brass in the bells of Nantes—moments to carry the melody. A Grade 3 piece this inventive is rare.

A tour through the French countryside, leisurely and storytelling in nature. One moment you're hearing horns call out in a forest; the next, you're in a Renaissance court hearing an elegant dance. There's humor and drama woven throughout, and the melodies themselves carry the kind of historical character that makes folksongs endure.

Concert bands at the Grade 3 level who want to program something that sounds more interesting and sophisticated than typical starter-level fare. Directors seeking a piece that teaches ensemble listening and section balance without requiring advanced technical chops will find solid pedagogy wrapped in genuine musical interest.

• Balance the horn unison in 'La Chasse' so it cuts through clearly; this is the ensemble's first impression, and it sets the tone for the entire suite.
• Treat 'La Belle' as a genuine hymn-like moment. The tempo should breathe, and the pavane's stately character will anchor the listener before the music accelerates again.
• Lock the brass trio into a steady, confident groove in 'Chevaliers de la Table Ronde.' The humor of the text is lost if the rhythm wavers.
• In 'Les Cloches de Nantes,' listen carefully to the moment when woodwinds and brass combine. That tutti moment needs clarity and weight; underrehearse it and it muddles.

This works as a concert opener that establishes your band's ability to handle varied timbral colors and shift character cleanly from section to section. It pairs well with a contrasting modern work or a heavier classical transcription later in the program, giving your audience a clear shift in mood. The piece is also short enough to work comfortably on a pops or family concert where accessibility matters.

• Sectional balance and blend across changing instrumentation
• Shifting character and tempo within a single movement
• Listening to melody that passes between sections
• Releasing and entering cleanly in fast sectional transitions
• Sustaining tone quality through longer, quiet passages