Leviathan: Concert Band Conductor Score

Leviathan captures the mystery and majesty of an ocean giant moving through deep water. The whale vocalizations anchor the piece in nature, creating an immersive soundscape that feels both contemporary and timeless. Your ensemble will feel like they're composing an experience, not just performing a score.

Beginning concert bands ready to expand beyond conventional instrumentation and young players who respond to novelty and hands-on discovery. Directors looking for a Grade 1 piece that sparks engagement and curiosity will find Leviathan worth the extra rehearsal planning it requires.

• Assign your whale sound options well before rehearsal begins so percussionists can experiment and select their approach; pre-recorded sounds are fastest for a first run-through, but acoustic options (waterphone, vibraphone with double bass bow, wah-wah tube) reward student creativity.
• Balance whale sounds with the ensemble texture so they enhance rather than overwhelm the band; start with dynamics in rehearsal and let students adjust their technique based on how the sound sits in the full arrangement.
• Give your percussion section dedicated time to explore how different instruments respond to unconventional playing techniques; this experimentation is part of the learning experience, not extra work.

This works beautifully as a concert opener or closer that shifts the mood and expectations of your audience. Consider pairing it with other programmatic or contemporary band works to build a theme around nature, sound design, or unconventional instrumental color.

• Creating non-pitched percussion sounds and understanding extended instrumental techniques
• Listening to balance ensemble texture with special sound effects
• Problem-solving and experimentation with percussion equipment
• Connecting music to extra-musical subjects and natural imagery