La Madre de los Gatos: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$70.00 USD

La Madre de los Gatos: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: La Madre de los Gatos: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-36696
Price: 70.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Beck

Grade: 2 (Medium Easy)

Item: 00-36696

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With tempo markings like Allegro con passione and Prestissimo con fuego, this work includes all the passion and fire needed to grab the audience at your next concert. La Madre de los Gatos derives its title from a nickname given to Mrs. Verda Shine (Mama Kitty) by her colleagues and fellow band directors at Byrd Middle School, Duncanville, Texas. Along with her fondness for cats, Mrs. Shine earned her nickname for her commitment to the nurturing and support of program staff and students. The piece was written to celebrate her zeal and dedicated service as a Duncanville band director and was premiered at the 2009 Byrd Middle School Spring concert, with Mrs. Shine as featured clarinetist.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, La Madre de los Gatos: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Young Symphonic

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 270

ISBN10: 1-4706-5389-3

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-5389-7

UPC: 038081411538

SKU: 00-36696

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Beck

Brian Beck is a freelance composer and arranger with deep roots in Texas music education. His works have earned recognition including Reviewer's Choice awards from The Instrumentalist and J. W. Pepper, and his music appears on state UIL prescribed lists and in the GIA Publications series Teaching Music Through Performance In Band. He holds degrees in music education from Texas A&M University-Commerce and the University of Houston, and spent years directing bands at Faubion Middle School in McKinney and Byrd Middle School in Duncanville, where he was nominated for Teacher of the Year in 2008-09.

Under Beck's direction, his bands have earned consistent Superior ratings at UIL contests and produced finalists for the TMEA State Honor Band competition. The Faubion Symphonic I Band performed at The Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago in 2012. Beck is a 1994 graduate of the Duncanville Band Program and himself performed in the TMEA All-State Band.

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Why we love this

The personal backstory elevates this beyond a generic concert opener. Writing a work to honor a beloved colleague transforms a piece into a teaching moment about servant leadership and builds community investment in your program. The fiery tempo markings promise real energy without requiring advanced technique.

What to expect

Spirited and celebratory, with the brightness of Latin rhythms driving forward momentum. The piece balances fiery passages that demand crisp articulation and ensemble cohesion with the warmth of a personal tribute.

Who it's for

Grade 2 bands ready to program a work with genuine character and engaging pacing. Directors seeking repertoire that celebrates program culture and builds ensemble pride while remaining accessible for middle school level.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the demands of Allegro con passione and Prestissimo con fuego sections by rehearsing them separately at first, then gradually working transitions at tempo to prevent rhythmic slippage under the pressure of the fast passages.
Emphasize the Latin rhythmic character through consistent articulation in the low voices; lock the percussion section early and have them drive rehearsals so the band can anchor to their precision.
Feature your clarinet soloist (honoring the original dedicatee) by giving them adequate time to become comfortable with their part and by adjusting band dynamics during their prominent moments.

How to use it

Program this as a concert opener to establish energy and capture attention immediately, or place it mid-concert when audience engagement begins to dip. It works especially well on a concert featuring local heroes or program celebrations, and its contest-ready designation makes it suitable for festivals and competitions.