Midnight Ride: Bassoon
By Rossano Galante
Grade: 4
Item: 00-PC-0018972_B1
$3.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
Three main themes comprise Midnight Ride by Rossano Galante. Paul Revere's motif is a romantic, heroic melody that captures his bravery and tenacity. The Brown Beauty theme (Paul Revere's horse) incorporates a slower, lush musical offering that captures the strength and beauty of this animal. The ending thematic material represents the ride with a soaring melody accompanied by fast, rhythmic ostinati. (5:45)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Midnight Ride: Bassoon 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
SKU:
00-PC-0018972_B1
More about this title
About the Composer: Rossano Galante
Rossano Galante grew up in Buffalo, New York, and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in trumpet performance from SUNY Buffalo in 1992. That same year, he was selected as one of nineteen candidates worldwide for the University of Southern California's Film Scoring Program, where he studied under the late Jerry Goldsmith, the Academy Award-winning composer of The Omen.
Since relocating to California in 1999, Galante has built a prolific career in film orchestration and composition, collaborating with Oscar-nominated composers Marco Beltrami, Christophe Beck, Brian Tyler, and Christopher Lennertz. He has served as orchestrator on over eighty studio films, ranging from major franchises (Fast X, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, A Quiet Place series) to acclaimed dramas (Prisoners, Logan, Gods of Egypt). Beyond film work, Galante has become a sought-after composer for concert band and orchestra, with over 68 published compositions across Alfred, Schirmer, Hafabra, C.L. Barnhouse, and other leading publishers.
Why we love this
Galante's film scoring background brings cinematic storytelling to the concert band stage. Three distinct thematic ideas unfold like scenes in a narrative, each orchestrated with enough textural variety and instrumental color to hold an audience's attention without relying on overly complex technical demands. For Grade 4 bands seeking programmatic work that balances accessibility with genuine musical sophistication, this piece delivers.
What to expect
Midnight Ride sweeps listeners through a heroic journey with cinematic clarity. The opening captures noble determination, the middle section offers a tender, strength-filled passage, and the drive to the finale builds with mounting excitement and galloping momentum.
Who it's for
Grade 4 concert bands looking for accessible programmatic repertoire with enough musical substance to engage both players and audiences. Directors preparing for festival or concert settings will find a piece that showcases good ensemble playing without requiring virtuosic technique.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape Paul Revere's motif with a singing, legit tone in the melodic sections; the heroic quality comes from phrasing and breath control, not aggressive articulation.
- Allow the Brown Beauty theme to breathe with lush harmonic support from the lower voices; this section reveals the band's ability to blend and sustain.
- Lock the fast, rhythmic ostinati in the final section between your percussion section and low brass so the soaring melody sits clearly on top without muddiness.
- Record a run-through and listen back for balance between thematic material and accompaniment; film composers rely heavily on foreground-background relationships that conductors sometimes overlook in band scoring.
How to use it
This work fits naturally into a patriotic or American history concert, or serves as a compelling centerpiece on a program mixing folk-inspired narratives with concert band standards. Its five-minute-plus duration and varied character make it equally suited to festival adjudication or a spring concert finale.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing melody and accompaniment across the ensemble
- Sustaining long, lyrical phrases with consistent tone and support
- Executing fast rhythmic ostinati with precision and clarity
- Interpreting programmatic intent through phrasing and dynamic shaping