Magic City Montage: Baritone B.C.
By Robert Sheldon
Grade: 4.5 (Medium Advanced)
Item: 00-PC-0018692_BBC1
$3.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
This energetic overture allows us to enjoy the sparkling skyline of Miami, also known as the Magic City, from a speedboat on Biscayne Bay. A visit to the gardens of Vizcaya is represented by an elegant Danzon. The opening tempo returns with a nod to Miami's vibrant nightlife before taking us to our boat for the short trip home. Magic City Montage was composed by Robert Sheldon. (5:15)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Magic City Montage: Baritone B.C. comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Open in the Player
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Start Your Free Trial
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
239
SKU:
00-PC-0018692_BBC1
More about this title
About the Composer: Robert Sheldon
Robert Sheldon stands among the most frequently performed composers writing for wind band today. His works appear regularly on state, regional, and national contest lists, and his music reaches audiences across the globe. A prolific creator of new compositions and a principal voice in wind band pedagogy through Sound Innovations for Concert Band, Sheldon has earned recognition from the American School Band Director's Association, Phi Beta Mu, and ASCAP for his contributions to the field.
As a guest conductor, clinician, and educator, Sheldon maintains an active presence at honor bands, universities, and state music education conferences throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. He has led performances of his own works in some of the world's most prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, and the Kennedy Center. In 2020, VanderCook College of Music conferred upon him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his impact on music education and composition.
Why we love this
Sheldon's gift for narrative clarity shines here. Magic City Montage unfolds like a postcard sequence, giving your band distinct musical scenes to inhabit rather than abstract technical challenges. The programming spans visual spectacle (the Miami skyline), cultural specificity (the Danzon), and genuine excitement (the nightlife return), which means your musicians stay engaged because they're telling a story, not just executing a chart.
What to expect
A travelogue set to music. The piece opens with the glitter and motion of an urban waterfront, transitions into something contemplative and graceful, then surges back to life before gently returning home. You're not just playing notes; you're conducting your audience on an actual journey.
Who it's for
Grade 4.5 bands ready for medium advanced repertoire that rewards both technical execution and musical storytelling. Conductors seeking contest or festival material that engages the ensemble through vivid programmatic content will find the clear architecture and varied textures well-suited to developing musicians.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the opening tempo with clarity and precision; the sparkle of the skyline depends on rhythmic crispness in the upper voices.
- Honor the character shift when the Danzon section arrives. The elegance here requires a different approach to phrasing and balance than the surrounding energetic sections.
- Balance brightness with control in the return to the opening material. Excitement should feel propulsive, not frantic.
- Shape the closing passage as a journey back to the boat. Let the energy settle naturally rather than cutting off abruptly at the final note.
How to use it
This works powerfully as an opener or closer for a concert that showcases your band's range, or as a strong early entry in a contest rotation where the judges see both technical command and musical maturity. The five-minute duration and clear thematic structure make it an excellent centerpiece for a program exploring American regional themes or travel-inspired literature.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining tempo clarity and rhythmic precision across style changes
- Balancing ensemble texture when featured lines move among different sections
- Shaping a complete musical narrative through sectional contrasts
- Responding to program music by adjusting articulation, dynamics, and phrasing to match a specific character or scene
- Technical facility in Grade 4.5 ranges while preserving musical expression