High Water Mark: The Third Day: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Michael Sweeney
Grade: 2
Item: 35-PK01129403
$60.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
It would be difficult to find another grade 2 selection with as much drama and musical depth as this impressive work from young band master, Michael Sweeney. Depicting the momentous events of the final day of battle at Gettysburg in the Civil War, this composition paints vivid musical images including the early morning church bells, the artillery duel between the two armies, the parade-like advance of Confederate troops in Pickett's charge, and ultimately the crucial final battle. Included are extensive historical notes to help make this a complete and meaningful experience for performers and listeners alike. A one-of-a-kind composition!
High Water Mark: The Third Day: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts 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.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK01129403
More about this title
About the Composer: Michael Sweeney
Michael Sweeney has established himself as a prolific composer and arranger with a gift for creating accessible yet musically sophisticated band works. His compositions consistently balance melodic appeal with genuine artistic substance, making him a trusted voice in concert band literature across all ability levels.
Why we love this
Few Grade 2 pieces offer this combination of narrative arc, musical sophistication, and teachable depth. The historical context transforms what could be routine program filler into a meaningful learning experience, while Sweeney's orchestration creates moments of real impact without demanding virtuosity from players.
What to expect
The music unfolds like a documentary score, moving from quiet dawn through mounting tension to climactic conflict. Bell tones drift through the early measures, violent brass and percussion clash in the battle sequences, and martial themes march forward with determined intensity.
Who it's for
This work belongs in any Grade 2 concert band program seeking repertoire with substance beyond technique builders. Directors planning Civil War commemorations, historical curricula integrations, or festival programs will find this especially valuable.
How to get the most out of it
- Study the provided historical notes thoroughly before rehearsals begin; knowing the story behind each section helps players shape phrases with intentional dramatic purpose.
- Highlight the contrast between the gentle church bell figures and the aggressive artillery sections by adjusting articulation and dynamic response in each ensemble.
- Balance the lower reed and brass lines during Pickett's charge to maintain clarity while building momentum through the thematic statements.
- Mark tempo and transition points clearly in all parts, since the piece shifts between distinct musical scenes that require deliberate ensemble alignment.
How to use it
Schedule this as a centerpiece for a concert themed around American history or the power of programmatic music. Pair it with educational presentations where students share Civil War research, or use it as an entry point for discussing how composers translate historical events into sound.
Skills your students will build
- Responding to programmatic content through nuanced dynamic and articulation choices
- Balancing dense ensemble textures across multiple instrumental choirs
- Sustaining musical focus through sectional form and thematic development
- Interpreting historical context as a tool for musical interpretation
- Executing contrasting articulation styles within a single composition