Nexus: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Curnow structures this work as a genuine partnership between soloist and ensemble, never relegating the band to accompaniment role. The scherzo and ballad frame creates natural dramatic arc, and the fact that it draws on a theme meaningful to the dedicatee Alfred Watkins adds real humanity to the piece. Your trumpet section and your lead player both get satisfying musical material.

Bright and athletic in the outer scherzo sections, with sharp rhythmic articulation and spiraling trumpet lines that demand precision and clarity. The central ballad pulls back into intimate territory, letting the soloist sing over warm band harmonies before the return to that energetic opening feel. The overall effect is one of connection and contrast, balancing virtuosity with genuine lyricism.

Bands at the Grade 4 level fielding a strong principal trumpet player. This work assumes technical security from the lead trumpet but is equally rewarding as a confidence builder for a capable soloist stepping into a longer, more dramatically complex role. It works well for ensembles preparing for festival performance.

• Prepare the trumpet soloist separately on the ballad section first. The lyricism there sets the emotional anchor for the entire work, so secure that before tackling the scherzo's agility.
• Balance the band texture during the scherzo so the trumpet line cuts through cleanly without the ensemble drowning it out. This is a feature moment, not a tutti.
• Let the ballad breathe. Resist the urge to rush the tempo. Curnow's expressive writing rewards patience and support from the band.
• Use the recorded accompaniment track to help the soloist internalize the relationships between the scherzo sections and understand how the band colors shift around the trumpet line.

This fits naturally on a concert exploring the soloist tradition in band music, pairing well with other concertante works. Its six-minute duration makes it an ideal centerpiece for a program that builds from simpler ensemble work into more ambitious territory. Consider programming it as your feature piece in the second half once the band is warmed up and focused.

• Balancing transparent orchestration with clear solo line projection
• Executing rapid scalar and arpeggio figures (trumpet) with rhythmic precision
• Sustaining legato phrasing across longer melodic statements
• Responding to tempo and style shifts between contrasting formal sections
• Ensemble listening when the solo instrument carries primary melodic interest