Monticello Mosaic: Bells
By Gary Fagan
Grade: 2 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0014583_B
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Description
Monticello is a beautiful historic estate that was home to Thomas Jefferson. The property is a mosaic of beautiful gardens, historic architecture, ingenious inventions, and panoramic views of the countryside. This piece endeavors to musically depict the characteristics of this historic landmark of American culture and history.
"Interesting part layering and suspensions give this piece more character than many of this grade level."
-The Instrumentalist
"Interesting part layering and suspensions give this piece more character than many of this grade level."
-The Instrumentalist
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Monticello Mosaic: Bells comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Young Symphonic
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
242
SKU:
00-PC-0014583_B
More about this title
About the Composer: Gary Fagan
Gary Fagan brings four decades of band direction experience to his work as a composer and arranger. A Maryland native, he spent 36 years leading the band program in Albemarle County before transitioning to university supervision at James Madison University, where he also teaches arranging. His compositions and arrangements have been performed at prestigious venues including the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the White House, and the inauguration of former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder.
Fagan's contributions to music education have earned him recognition as Central Virginia's Outstanding Middle School Teacher, an Outstanding Educator Award from the Virginia Governor's School for the Visual and Performing Arts, and distinction in "Who's Who Among America's Teachers" twice over. Active as a clinician, adjudicator, and percussionist with the Charlottesville Band, he holds degrees from Bridgewater College and James Madison University and maintains membership in ASCAP, the National Band Association, and Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity.
Why we love this
Fagan writes with the hand of someone who has stood in front of thousands of student musicians. The part layering here feels organic rather than contrived, and suspensions sit naturally within the harmonic framework instead of calling attention to themselves. For Grade 2 repertoire, this strikes an unusually sophisticated balance between accessibility and genuine compositional craft.
What to expect
The music unfolds like a visual tour: you move through manicured gardens and grand halls, pause to admire architectural detail, then step back to take in sprawling countryside. Fagan creates coherence from contrasting sections, weaving patriotic sensibility throughout without resorting to obvious quotation or bombast. The result feels contemplative and proud in equal measure.
Who it's for
This piece suits any concert band in Grades 2-3 looking for repertoire that feels substantial without excessive technical demand. It works equally well for all-state festivals, summer concert series, and Independence Day programming, giving developing ensembles the chance to explore genuine compositional voice.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the suspensions carefully during the harmonic progressions; they should color the texture without overwhelming the fundamental chord structure. Have players think about leaning slightly on the suspended notes, then resolving with clarity.
- Attend to the interplay between sections. The "mosaic" concept means different instrumental colors are doing different things simultaneously. Rehearse in mixed sectional groupings to hear how your woodwinds sit against brass, not just within sections.
- Use the historic and architectural imagery in the program notes to inform tempo and phrasing choices. A "panoramic view" section will breathe differently than a passage depicting "ingenious invention."
How to use it
Program this as a concert centerpiece during your summer season or Fourth of July celebration, pairing it with lighter fare or more vigorous marches to round out the evening. The piece also serves well as a festival contest selection, as its musicality and craft stand up to adjudication while remaining accessible to younger ensembles.
Skills your students will build
- Voicing suspensions within harmonic progressions
- Blending contrasting instrumental textures and section colors
- Interpreting program music through phrasing and dynamic shape
- Sustaining musicality at Grade 2 technical level