Mountain Strong: Score
Concert March
By Jerry Brubaker
Grade: 4 (Medium)
Item: 00-PR-0004998
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Description
Dedicated to the communities in Colorado that faced the devastating effects of flooding in the fall of 2013, this original concert march musically demonstrates that those communities are indeed "Mountain Strong." (2:30)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Mountain Strong: Score 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:
Belwin Symphonic Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
122
SKU:
00-PR-0004998
More about this title
About the Composer: Jerry Brubaker
Jerry Brubaker has established himself as a prolific composer and arranger for wind bands, with a catalog that spans original concert works, marches, and transcriptions. His compositions are known for their accessibility to student ensembles while maintaining musical substance and emotional depth. Brubaker's work has become standard repertoire in school and university band programs across North America.
Why we love this
Mountain Strong captures something genuine: a musical response to real community resilience. Rather than relying on bombast, Brubaker lets a well-crafted march do the work, building from understated strength to genuine affirmation. The piece offers your band a chance to play something with purpose beyond the page.
What to expect
Mountain Strong unfolds like a portrait of quiet determination slowly becoming visible. The march form provides familiar structure, but Brubaker's orchestration and phrasing give it an understated dignity that resists sentimentality. By the final strain, what began as individual resolve has crystallized into collective affirmation.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the intermediate to early advanced level will find this piece within comfortable technical reach while offering genuine expressive challenges. It works equally well for school bands building their classical march repertoire and community ensembles seeking contemporary original music with substance.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the tempo steady and purposeful; this march works best when it feels grounded rather than rushed, allowing the thematic material to speak clearly to listeners unfamiliar with the piece's context.
- Balance the melodic line across sections so that when themes pass between instruments, the continuity remains audible even if individual lines recede slightly.
- Shape the dynamic contours deliberately rather than making sudden jumps; the piece builds its emotional arc through gradual intensification.
- Consider how you frame this work when introducing it to your ensemble; a brief mention of its dedication can deepen musicians' investment in the performance without requiring detailed historical context.
How to use it
This piece fits naturally into concert programs celebrating resilience, community, or American themes without needing explicit thematic programming. Its moderate length (2:30) makes it an ideal centerpiece in a mixed-level concert or a strong opener that establishes serious musicianship before lighter fare.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining long melodic lines across phrase boundaries
- Balancing dynamic contrast within a march form
- Sectional independence and transparency in ensemble texture
- Interpreting thematic material that passes between instruments
- Coordinating sustained expression with rhythmic precision