Harbinger: Flute
By Robert Sheldon
Grade: 1.5 (Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0017004_F1
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Description
A harbinger signals the approach of something, so this piece would be a terrific way to begin your next concert! This exciting piece for young band has all the drama and intensity of a much more advanced piece, but is playable by less experienced musicians. Soaring melodies contrast rhythmic pulses to create a musical landscape that will inspire the players as well as the audience. (2:15) Correlates to Book 1, Level 5. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Harbinger: Flute comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Sound Innovations for Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
136
SKU:
00-PC-0017004_F1
More about this title
About the Composer: Robert Sheldon
Robert Sheldon stands among the most frequently performed composers in wind band repertoire. His works appear on international concert and festival programs regularly, and ensembles worldwide perform his compositions with enthusiasm. He serves as lead author of Sound Innovations for Concert Band and maintains an active schedule of commissions and new publications annually.
Sheldon's contributions to music education have earned recognition from the American School Band Director's Association, Phi Beta Mu, and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. He conducts All-State and Regional Honor Bands as a guest conductor and presents clinics at universities and state music education conferences across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. His works have been performed at Carnegie Hall, Orchestra Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, Sydney Opera House, and the Kennedy Center. VanderCook College of Music granted him an honorary doctorate in 2020.
Why we love this
Harbinger delivers the dramatic arc and orchestration that typically demand more advanced ensembles, yet remains entirely accessible to young bands just beginning their musical journey. Sheldon crafts this piece so the soaring melodic lines and rhythmic energy feel genuinely exciting to play, not simplified. Opening a concert with this sends a clear message: your band sounds confident and polished from the first note.
What to expect
Harbinger announces itself with immediacy and presence. Energetic rhythmic figures propel forward while lyrical lines soar above, creating a landscape that feels larger than the instrumentation. There's a sense of momentum and drama that keeps both performers and listeners engaged throughout.
Who it's for
Young concert bands ready to perform a piece with genuine musical substance and orchestral color. This works for ensembles in their first or second year of organized band study, or for groups where experience levels are mixed and you need material that doesn't sound compromised at an easy level.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the contrast between melodic solos and rhythmic pulse sections by adjusting dynamics carefully in sectional rehearsals; the piece gains impact when these textures remain distinct.
- Emphasize precision in the rhythmic patterns to maintain the driving energy throughout; young musicians often rush when excitement builds, so anchor tempos with steady conducting.
- Feature your strongest melodic players on the soaring lines and ensure adequate rehearsal time for whoever carries the opening theme to establish confidence.
- Shape phrases musically rather than statically; even at this level, students respond well to direction about where phrases breathe and how intensity builds toward climactic moments.
How to use it
Open your concert with this piece. Its clear structure, exciting sound, and reasonable length (2:15) establish confidence in your ensemble right away and set an engaged tone for the audience. It also pairs well with more reflective pieces later in the program as a statement of your band's capabilities.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing lyrical melodic lines against rhythmic accompaniment patterns
- Reading and executing dynamic contrasts across an ensemble
- Maintaining steady tempo during rhythmic passages
- Responding to dramatic structural shifts and intensity changes within a single piece