Introduction and Scherzo: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

This score delivers genuine musical content in a compact five-minute package. The contrast between the reflective opening and the propulsive scherzo gives your band real interpretive work to do, and the orchestration makes every section feel essential rather than padding.

The piece opens with contemplative beauty, inviting the listener in with spacious orchestration. When the scherzo arrives, the band transforms into something vital and driving, with layered instrumental colors creating momentum and excitement without relying on bombast.

This work suits Grade 3 concert bands preparing for contests, festivals, or concert programs. Directors seeking a piece with genuine musical substance and clear contrasts in character will find this an excellent fit for mid-range ensembles.

• Shape the slow introduction with long, sustained voicings in the woodwinds and low brass; resist the urge to rush the transition into the scherzo.
• Lock the rhythmic precision once the driving pulse enters. The energy comes from clarity and unity, not aggression.
• Highlight the color shifts Calvert writes into the contrasting scoring. Balance the band so each shift in instrumentation registers distinctly.
• Use the full 236 pages of parts to ensure every musician has clean, legible music during rehearsal.

This five-minute work works well as a contest entry or as part of a concert featuring 20th-century band literature. Its moderate length allows pairing with larger works or serving as an effective opener that establishes the ensemble's musicality early.

• Sustaining long phrases with consistent support from the full band
• Executing rhythmic precision in syncopated passages
• Reading for awareness of orchestral color and balance across multiple parts
• Executing the transition between contrasting tempos and characters