Gigue Française: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Strommen understands what makes a Grade 3 piece sing without sacrificing substance. The opening clarinet melody sounds considerably more intricate than it plays, which means your students get the satisfaction of mastering something that sounds impressive while your rehearsal time stays efficient. It's the kind of writing that makes a band sound polished without requiring weeks of technical grinding.

A spirited waltz transplanted to the concert stage, complete with the sophisticated elegance of French composition and the infectious energy of traditional dance. The piece invites the listener to move while demanding the performers bring refinement and control to every phrase.

Concert bands working at the Grade 3 level who want repertoire that teaches musicianship without excessive technical demands. Directors seeking a genuine concert piece that also works in festival or contest settings, and ensembles that thrive on music with clear melodic appeal and rhythmic vitality.

• Shape the opening clarinet line with gentle articulation; let the triple meter breathe rather than push it forward mechanically.
• Balance the melody against supporting voices so the playful character stays in focus without losing harmonic clarity.
• Approach the dance-like sections with rhythmic precision but allow slight flexibility in phrase endings to capture the French character.
• Use the MakeMusic Cloud version to distribute parts efficiently and track rehearsal progress across your ensemble.

Pair this as a centerpiece selection for a spring concert that celebrates lighter, European-influenced repertoire alongside heavier contemporary works. It functions equally well in festival programming where judges reward both technical clarity and musical maturity, and its triple meter offers a welcome rhythmic contrast within a mixed program.

• Playing flowing melodic lines in triple meter with stylistic clarity
• Balancing solo voices against harmonic accompaniment
• Executing articulation patterns that define character and phrase shape
• Reading multi-page conductor scores and aligning individual parts with ensemble texture
• Interpreting dance-oriented rhythmic energy without losing musical sophistication