Journey to the Emerald City: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

The piece summons the wonder and whimsy of stepping through magical landscape, shimmering textures and wandering melodic lines create an immersive journey rather than a straightforward narrative. There's both lightness and substance here, with the low brass providing gravitational pull beneath the floating upper voices.

Concert band directors programming Grade 4 pieces that satisfy both students and audiences. This works for bands seeking contest or festival material with genuine musical substance, not just flash.

• Balance the melodic material across sections during early rehearsals by asking non-traditional melody carriers to play with the confidence of a featured line. This builds ownership and prevents the band from defaulting to familiar listening habits.
• Isolate the low brass passages in sectionals and establish a solid, unified rhythmic foundation before asking the full ensemble to sit on top of their work. These players need clarity about their role as the piece's backbone.
• Listen for clarity in the magical, mystical passages, resist the urge to over-blend. Bennette's orchestration likely benefits from slightly separated colors that create the shimmering effect the piece aims for.

Program this as a festival or contest centerpiece where you want strong audience appeal alongside demonstrable musical growth for your students. It also pairs well on a concert where you're balancing a heavier contemporary work or classical arrangement, since its accessibility and charm offer welcome contrast.

• Balancing melodic lines across multiple voice parts simultaneously
• Low brass endurance and independence in sustained passages
• Dynamic shaping and phrasing at the section level
• Listening across the ensemble to maintain musical cohesion