Let's Have a Ball: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Kenneth Bray's arrangement has preserved the infectious energy of Harrington's original contest piece while giving it new life on the concert band stage. The inclusion of the melody across all voices, especially the low brass and tubas, creates a democratic approach to the thematic material that keeps every section engaged. A Grade 3 march that plays with convention just enough to feel fresh without sacrificing the forward momentum your audience expects.

Bright, purposeful, and celebratory. The march rhythm provides a familiar scaffolding, but the arrangement's emphasis on melodic unity across the entire band creates a sense of collective energy rather than sectional hierarchy. There's a kinetic quality that invites the audience into the spirit of the occasion.

Concert bands at the Grade 3 level looking for a march that has genuine personality and historical interest. This work suits ensembles that want to program something festive without reaching for the same standard literature that appears on every spring concert.

• Balance the tutti melody passages so that low brass and tuba voices don't disappear under the upper voices. These instruments carry the primary theme equally, so they deserve proportional projection.
• Maintain crisp articulation throughout the march sections to keep the "typical march style" from feeling predictable. The score notes interesting musical twists, so let rhythmic clarity highlight those moments.
• Shape the dynamic contours within phrases rather than treating sections as static blocks. This will help the piece feel like it's propelling forward, not just marching in place.

This march works beautifully as a concert opener or closer, particularly for programs celebrating the school year or marking special occasions. Its connection to the 1967 Montreal Expo adds an engaging talking point for concert notes or announcements, and the straightforward Grade 3 difficulty means it won't monopolize rehearsal time when you're juggling larger works.

• Balance and blend in unison and tutti passages
• Articulation consistency across wind and percussion sections
• Understanding march form and phrasing conventions
• Counting and executing rhythmic figures in march tempo