Let There Be One Nation: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Marlatt captures the ceremonial grandeur of an Olympic closing without requiring advanced technical demands from your ensemble. The three-part structure (Fanfare, Parade of Flags, Celebration) gives you clear dramatic arc and rehearsal landmarks, and the optional chorus integration lets you expand the finale into a genuinely moving moment that speaks to something bigger than competition.

The piece unfolds like watching the real thing: solemn and dignified as nations process in, then gradually building toward joy and unity as barriers dissolve. Marlatt's orchestration keeps the Grade 2 ensemble grounded in accessible ranges while still delivering moments of genuine ceremony and warmth.

Band directors programming patriotic or ceremonial music for concert settings, especially those with mixed Grade 2 ensembles and access to singers for optional chorus parts. This works equally well for all-instrumental performance or as a vehicle for connecting your band with a choir program.

• Shape the opening fanfare with deliberate articulation and dynamic control so the brass cuts through cleanly without rushing; this sets the ceremonial tone for everything that follows.
• Balance the Parade of Flags section so sustained lines in upper woodwinds don't overshadow the processional character of lower voices and percussion; think steady, purposeful motion rather than lyrical.
• If you're using the chorus for the celebration section, schedule dedicated rehearsal time with your singers before full band integration; even at Grade 2, the coordination between sung text and band accompaniment needs careful attention.
• Let the percussion (particularly timpani and cymbals) breathe during transitional moments; restrain the impulse to fill silence, which will strengthen the impact of the celebratory climax.

Program this as a finisher for a concert themed around community, unity, or global connection. It also serves as an effective bridge piece between instrumental and vocal concert sections, especially if your chorus joins for the celebration finale. The accessible Grade 2 level makes it suitable for mid-year concerts where you want impact without advanced technical demands.

• Phrasing sustained lines across eight or more measures without rushing or sagging
• Reading straightforward rhythmic patterns in both simple and compound meter contexts
• Balancing independent woodwind and brass lines within a homophonic texture
• Executing dynamic control from soft to loud with intentional shape rather than sudden jumps
• Coordinating ensemble entrances and cutoffs with visual and aural precision