March Chromatica: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$49.00 USD

March Chromatica: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: March Chromatica: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-26802
Price: 49.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Mark Williams

Grade: 1.5 (Easy)

Item: 00-26802

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version

$49.00

Shipped

One moment…

Destined to become a standard of the school band repertoire, the melodies of this classic old-time 6/8 march are based on the chromatic scale. In fact, the melodies and countermelodies in the "trio" section are pure chromatic scales (moving in opposite directions), and the superb harmonization makes it sound fantastic. You have to hear it to believe it! This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, March Chromatica: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts 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.

No sample videos found.

Series: Challenger Band Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 58

UPC: 038081301624

SKU: 00-26802

More about this title

About the Composer: Mark Williams

Mark Williams built a remarkable career composing for school bands and orchestras, creating over 200 published works that have become staples in rehearsal rooms across North America and beyond. A Chicago native who spent his formative years in Spokane, Washington, he channeled his deep understanding of school band pedagogy into music that balances accessibility with musical substance. He holds degrees from Eastern Washington University and served as a woodwind performer and arranger for the 560th Air Force Band, bringing professional orchestration skills to every score he wrote.

As both a clinician and guest conductor, Williams traveled extensively throughout 34 states, five Canadian provinces, and Australia, sharing his compositional philosophy with educators and students. He co-authored the Accent on Achievement Band Method and earned recognition including the Western International Band Clinic's Gralia Competition and multiple ASCAP Special Awards. Beyond his prolific output as a composer, Williams remained an active bassoon performer and served as conductor and artistic director for the Spokane British Brass Band, grounding his work in the practical realities of ensemble music-making.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Williams transforms a single compositional concept—the chromatic scale—into a piece that teaches ensemble fundamentals without sounding like a teaching tool. The countermelodies moving in opposite directions in the trio section provide a satisfying harmonic richness that will surprise directors expecting a straightforward Grade 1.5 march, making it rewarding for both students and audiences. At this accessible level, you rarely find writing this clean and this musically honest.

What to expect

A crisp, tuneful march that sparkles without pretension. The chromatic writing gives it harmonic sophistication and a slightly modern edge, while the classic march form and 6/8 meter ground it in band tradition. When played well, the opposing chromatic lines in the trio create an almost kaleidoscopic effect that feels both cerebral and purely fun.

Who it's for

Directors seeking Grade 1.5 concert band repertoire that develops musicianship alongside foundational technical skills. This march works equally well as a concert opener or closer, and it pairs naturally with other early-level fare in festival and contest programming.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the chromatic lines in the trio carefully; the opposing motions can blur if inner voices overshadow the principal melody or if dynamics aren't shaped with intention.
Keep the 6/8 pulse steady and lilting rather than heavy. This march should feel buoyant, not plodding, even at moderate tempos.
Shape the chromatic passages by listening for the overall direction of each voice rather than emphasizing individual notes. Legit phrasing makes the scale work sound inevitable rather than mechanical.

How to use it

Program this early in a concert where it can capture audience attention with its distinctive harmonic character without demanding technical virtuosity from your ensemble. The clear melodic writing and satisfying harmonic movement make it an excellent teaching demonstration of how compositional craft enhances even the simplest music forms.