Graceful Ghost Rag: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Graceful Ghost Rag: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 35-PK00156085
Price: 85.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By William Bolcom

Grade: 4

Item: 35-PK00156085

Digital Download

$85.00

Product	Price	Quantity
Graceful Ghost Rag - Conductor Score (Full Score)	$7.50
Graceful Ghost Rag - Piccolo	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Flute 1	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Flute 2	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Oboe	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Bassoon 1	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Bassoon 2	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Bb Clarinet 1	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Bb Clarinet 2	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Bb Clarinet 3	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Bb Bass Clarinet	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Eb Alto Saxophone 1	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Eb Alto Saxophone 2	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Bb Tenor Saxophone	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Eb Baritone Saxophone	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Bb Trumpet 1	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Bb Trumpet 2	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Bb Trumpet 3	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - F Horn 1	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - F Horn 2	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - F Horn 3	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - F Horn 4	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Trombone 1	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Trombone 2	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Trombone 3	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Baritone B.C.	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Baritone T.C.	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Tuba	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - String Bass	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Percussion 1	$6.00
Graceful Ghost Rag - Percussion 2	$6.00

Adapted from the well-known piano composition "Graceful Ghost Rag," here is William Bolcom's own very elegant and effective version for symphonic band. Written in a moderate ragtime tempo, this work utilizes a transparent scoring style along with soloistic passages contrasted with brief soli features for various sections of the ensemble. Unique and rewarding. Dur: 4:00 (Grade 4)

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Publisher: Hal Leonard

SKU: 35-PK00156085

More about this title

About the Composer: William Bolcom

William Bolcom stands among America's most prolific composers, equally comfortable writing for concert hall, stage, and educational ensemble. His output spans symphonies, operas, chamber works, and pieces for student musicians, all marked by his gift for clear orchestration and direct musical communication.

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Why we love this

Bolcom has written this arrangement with real awareness of what band musicians can do. The transparent scoring lets each section shine during soloistic passages, while the moderate ragtime tempo stays energetic without becoming unwieldy. A piece that sounds both sophisticated and genuinely fun to perform.

What to expect

A rag that feels refined rather than novelty. The scoring sparkles with light orchestral color, and the contrast between transparent full-ensemble moments and intimate solos creates a sense of musical conversation. There is humor and warmth here, but nothing heavy-handed.

Who it's for

Grade 4 concert bands with balanced instrumentation and musicians comfortable with soloistic exposure. Works equally well for festival programming or concert performance when you need something that combines sophistication with genuine student engagement.

How to get the most out of it

Maintain strict rhythmic precision in the ensemble figures that frame the solo passages. The ragtime idiom depends on tight rhythmic articulation between sections.
Balance the featured soloists against the accompaniment so their lines emerge clearly without overwhelming the harmonic context.
Shape the phrasing in solo sections with the same care you would give a vocalist. Bolcom's writing here rewards musical storytelling, not just mechanical accuracy.
Let the moderate tempo breathe. Resist the urge to rush; the elegance of the piece comes from rhythmic clarity, not speed.

How to use it

Position this as a mid-concert piece that refreshes the mood after heavier fare or as a thoughtful closer that sends the audience out smiling. It pairs naturally with other American concert band classics or works equally well as a bridge between a classical work and something more contemporary.