Great Falls Fantasy: Concert Band Conductor Score

$10.00 USD

Great Falls Fantasy: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: Great Falls Fantasy: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-50873S
Price: 10.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brant Karrick

Grade: 2.5

Item: 00-50873S

$10.00

Shipped

One moment…

Inspiration for Great Falls Fantasy, by Brant Karrick, comes from The Great Falls of the Potomac River, considered one of the most spectacular landmarks in the Washington D.C. area. A Coplandesque theme weaves its way through unique harmonies, including inversions and extended chords, reflecting the majesty and beauty of the river and its surroundings. (3:30)

Great Falls Fantasy: Concert Band Conductor Score isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.

Series: Young Symphonic

Publisher: Alfred Music

ISBN10: 1-4706-6685-5

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-6685-9

UPC: 038081585468

SKU: 00-50873S

More about this title

About the Composer: Brant Karrick

Brant Karrick has shaped generations of musicians as Director of Bands at Northern Kentucky University since 2003, where he oversees the full band curriculum and teaches conducting, orchestration, and music education courses. His career spans decades of public school teaching in Kentucky, nine years at the University of Toledo, and extensive work as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician across the United States and internationally.

Karrick earned his Ph.D. in music education from Louisiana State University in 1994 and holds degrees from the University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University. His compositions have been performed throughout North America, Europe, Africa, South America, Asia, and Australia. He studied trumpet with Leon Rapier and composition with David Livingston, Steve Beck, and Cecil Karrick, influences that shaped his approach to writing accessible yet musically sophisticated band literature.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Great Falls Fantasy succeeds because it treats Grade 2.5 bands with genuine musical respect. Karrick's use of extended harmonies and chromatic inversions elevates what could be a simple patriotic overture into something that rewards careful ensemble listening and balances accessibility with harmonic sophistication. The Coplandesque theme provides immediate memorability while the unique harmonies keep conductors and musicians engaged through multiple rehearsals.

What to expect

Great Falls Fantasy captures the grandeur and flow of water and landscape through sweeping melodic lines and shifting harmonic color. The Coplandesque voice evokes Americana and open space while unexpected harmonic turns suggest the power and movement of the natural landmark that inspired it.

Who it's for

This score serves conductors preparing Grade 2.5 concert bands for contest or festival performance. The patriotic genre and moderate technical demands make it suitable for mid-year programming with ensembles ready to balance musical maturity with approachable ranges and part writing.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the primary theme with long, sustained phrasing rather than punctuating it section by section. Let the Coplandesque melody breathe and carry the listener through the harmonic landscape.
Balance the extended and inverted harmonies by isolating chord voicings in rehearsal so students hear how individual lines support the overall color. This clarity prevents muddiness when all parts play together.
Use the 3:30 duration as a structural anchor. Tempo should feel inevitable rather than hurried, giving weight to the river's majesty without losing forward momentum.
Emphasize dynamic control across the full ensemble. The theme's beauty depends on the band responding to subtle nuances in expression rather than playing with uniform volume.

How to use it

Program this as the centerpiece of a patriotic or American landscape-themed concert, pairing it with other mid-grade works that explore geography or national identity. Its contest-worthy craftsmanship and audience appeal also make it an excellent choice for winter or spring festival circuits where bands need repertoire that balances technical accessibility with musical substance.