Medal of Valor: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Hodges crafts a march that moves beyond traditional structures without losing clarity. The trio provides real musical breathing room before the orchestration thickens into the "dogfight" treatment, giving your students textural contrasts to execute and your audience something genuinely satisfying to hear. At Grade 3, the writing sits comfortably in students' ranges while demanding attention to articulation, dynamic shape, and sectional independence.

A march that swaggers in its opening before stepping back into elegance, then returning with renewed fire. The aggressive minor melody and driving rhythmic life give it muscle, while the trio offers respite and musicality. The final "dogfight" treatment pulls everything together into a climactic rush that feels earned rather than imposed.

Intermediate concert bands ready to tackle sectional writing and textural variety. This work sits well for groups comfortable with independent part work and articulation clarity but not yet requiring advanced technical passage work.

• Establish the opening trumpet motif with confidence and clarity. The woodwind and low brass accents should snap crisply without overwhelming the melodic line.
• Shape the trio section deliberately. After the aggressive opening, the shift to smoothness requires intentional breath, lighter articulation, and a measured tempo that doesn't rush the contrast.
• Lock the rhythmic accompaniment across sections. The active rhythmic support only lands when all players understand their place in the pulse.
• Prepare the modulation into the final statement as a distinct moment. This shift should feel purposeful and energized, signaling the climax rather than simply arriving there.

Program this as a concert opener or closer that commands attention. The strong programmatic arc makes it equally suited to festival competitions where judges appreciate clear structure and distinct sections. It pairs well alongside lighter fare, offering directors a piece that showcases student control over dynamics, balance, and sectional coordination.

• Balancing melody against active rhythmic accompaniment in mixed instrumentation
• Executing sharp articulations in fast passage work
• Maintaining independent part clarity while supporting a primary melodic line
• Recognizing and executing textural contrast between aggressive and legato sections
• Playing through a key modulation with secure intonation