Lightning!: Concert Band Conductor Score

Fagan captures genuine excitement here without sacrificing musical substance. The syncopated rhythms and contrapuntal writing create forward momentum that holds student attention while delivering real compositional craft, making this an ideal contest selection that sounds far more sophisticated than its Grade 3.5 designation suggests.

Jagged and propulsive, with syncopated rhythms creating constant forward pull. The piece channels storm energy through layered melodic lines that crash together and scatter, building tension before resolving into moments of clarity.

Directors seeking an accessible contest piece that engages students without requiring advanced ensemble maturity. Bands at the upper Grade 3 level will find the technical demands reasonable while the dramatic character keeps rehearsals energized.

• Balance the contrapuntal lines carefully during full ensemble passages; too much percussion weight will blur the melodic independence you've worked to establish.
• Lock the syncopated figures in the reed and brass sections separately before combining them; rhythmic precision is what generates the storm's intensity.
• Shape the dynamic arc across entire phrases rather than responding to individual accents, allowing the tension to build organically toward climactic moments.

Program this on a spring concert to shift energy after lyrical selections, or enter it in regional contests where it can compete within its grade level while showcasing your section's rhythmic facility. Its relatively compact performance time also works well as the centerpiece of a thematic program exploring weather, natural forces, or dynamic contrasts.

• Reading and executing syncopated rhythmic figures across multiple parts
• Tracking independent melodic lines within dense contrapuntal textures
• Controlling dynamic intensity and release in sustained passages
• Coordinating articulation and balance between reed, brass, and percussion sections