Furiant: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Wilds accomplishes what few arrangers manage at this level: he captures the essential character and energy of Dvorák's Slavonic Dance No. 1 while creating something playable with just six pitches. The writing feels musically complete rather than simplified, with dramatic accents, style shifts, and that accelerando-and-pause gesture that give students a real sense of architectural structure. For a starter band, this is a legitimate concert piece, not a pedagogical placeholder.

A furiant is a Slavic dance that pulses with restless energy and sharp accents, and this piece captures that fire from the opening note. The drama builds through sharp contrasts in texture and dynamic, with an accelerando that pulls everything toward a thrilling climax, all delivered through music that sounds far more sophisticated than its technical requirements suggest.

This is perfect for beginning concert bands at the ½ grade level who are ready to explore something beyond basic march or chorale forms. The limited pitch set keeps reading manageable while the rhythmic vitality and style demands keep students musically engaged. It works equally well for festival performance or concert programming.

• Treat the dynamic shifts and accents as dramatic storytelling devices, not just markings on the page. The piece gains momentum through sharp contrast between sections.
• Balance the accelerando carefully so it builds genuine energy without losing the character of the dance. Let the tempo rise naturally rather than forcing it.
• Shape the grand pause as a genuine moment of silence. The ensemble should feel the weight of that stillness before the thrilling final statement.

Program this early in the concert to establish energy and excitement, or use it as a festival entry that shows how seriously you take your developing musicians' artistic growth. It pairs well with more lyrical pieces because the contrast will serve both works. The piece is compact enough to fit into virtually any concert structure while making a memorable impact.

• Playing with precision and clarity at moderate to fast tempos
• Responding to sudden dynamic and style shifts
• Understanding and executing accelerando with ensemble unity
• Phrasing and punctuation through accent placement
• Building excitement through crescendo and rhythmic energy within a limited pitch set