Mountain Music Throwdown: Mallets
Including Cluck Old Hen and Cripple Creek
Traditional Fiddle Tunes / arr. Scott Watson
Grade: 2.5
Item: 00-PC-0019757_M1
$3.00
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Description
Mountain Music Throwdown, arranged by Scott Watson, is for intermediate bands and brings two contrasting Appalachian fiddle tunes into one spectacular arrangement. It includes the sassy, minor-key "Cluck Old Hen" and the upbeat, major-key "Cripple Creek." Featuring folksy percussion and authentic stylistic elements, it offers a fun experience in an American folk tradition.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Mountain Music Throwdown: Mallets 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 Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PC-0019757_M1
More about this title
About the Arranger: Scott Watson
Scott Watson has spent four decades shaping young musicians, first as Director of Bands and then as coordinator of instrumental programs across the Parkland School District in Allentown, Pennsylvania. His transition to higher education brought him to Cairn University, where he serves as Associate Professor of Music while maintaining an active composing practice that has yielded over 120 published works for concert band, string orchestra, and chamber ensembles.
Watson's catalog spans all ability levels and reflects a dual foundation in contemporary concert music and practical band pedagogy. His compositions have been performed at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, and the White House. He is an exclusive composer and clinician for Alfred Publications, contributes to their Sound Innovations series, and authored Using Technology to Unlock Musical Creativity (Oxford University Press, 2011). Watson regularly conducts honor bands and leads workshops for music educators nationally.
Why we love this
Watson captures the spirit of Appalachian fiddle traditions without requiring students to abandon band sonorities. The arrangement pairs two contrasting tunes (one minor and contemplative, one major and driving) in a single work, giving conductors a compact way to explore American folk idioms and regional musical heritage. At grade 2.5, the writing sits right in the sweet spot where intermediate bands can handle the stylistic nuances and authentic percussion colors without struggling through overly complex passages.
What to expect
The minor-key opening of "Cluck Old Hen" carries a slightly mischievous, backwoods charm before pivoting into the infectious energy of "Cripple Creek." Folksy percussion textures and idiomatic writing create the feel of a high-spirited fiddle competition captured in band color.
Who it's for
Intermediate concert bands seeking accessible yet musically substantial American folk arrangements. Students benefit from exposure to regional traditions and authentic stylistic performance, while conductors appreciate a contest-ready work that does not require extended rehearsal time to bring to performance level.
How to get the most out of it
- Lean into the minor tonality of "Cluck Old Hen" with a darker, slightly detached articulation; this tune benefits from a folk fiddler's approach to phrasing rather than classical smoothness.
- Bring the percussion parts forward in the mix, particularly the folk-styled rhythms; they anchor the authenticity of the arrangement and drive the energy of "Cripple Creek."
- Use tempo flexibility between the two tunes to heighten the contrast; the first tune can breathe with slight rubato, while the second should lock into a steady, driving pulse.
- Feature the woodwind soloists who carry the melodic content in each tune; these are voices the audience should hear clearly as the tune unfolds.
How to use it
Program this work as a standalone concert opener or closer to energize your audience and introduce students to American folk roots. It also works effectively on festival or contest programs where intermediate bands can showcase both musical maturity and stylistic versatility within a Grade 2.5 framework.
Skills your students will build
- Authentic ornamentation and articulation in folk idioms
- Listening to and balancing folk-styled percussion parts with melodic content
- Phrasing across contrasting tonalities (minor and major)
- Ensemble rhythmic precision in driving, pulse-based folk grooves
- Recognition and performance of Appalachian musical traditions