Oak Island Odyssey: 2nd B-flat Trumpet
By Vince Gassi
Grade: 4 (Medium Difficult)
Item: 00-PC-0015921_T2
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Description
The Vikings, Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, the Freemasons, the Knights Templar, and Marie Antoinette---these are the legends of Oak Island and its two hundred year old tale of exploration and intrigue in Nova Scotia, Canada. With bold themes and energetic drive, this musical odyssey captures the sense of adventure that has surrounded the ongoing quest for buried treasure. (4:30) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Oak Island Odyssey: 2nd B-flat Trumpet 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:
Alfred Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
276
SKU:
00-PC-0015921_T2
More about this title
About the Composer: Vince Gassi
Vince Gassi has published more than 100 works since joining Alfred Music in 2006, establishing himself as one of the most prolific composers for young concert bands today. His education spans the University of Western Ontario (Bachelor of Music), the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles, and York University in Toronto, where he completed his Ph.D. He brings two and a half decades of classroom experience teaching instrumental music at elementary and secondary levels.
Gassi's reputation extends far beyond the page. He maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician throughout North America, and his pieces appear regularly on festival and contest programs internationally. His seminars on arranging concepts and creative engagement, along with his workshops on digital workflows for music directors, reflect his commitment to helping teachers and students work at their highest level. His works have been recorded and performed across North America, Europe, and Japan, with frequent performances at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago.
Why we love this
This is pure narrative energy wrapped in accessible brass and woodwind writing. Gassi builds genuine forward momentum through bold thematic material and rhythmic drive without sacrificing musicality, which means your band gets to feel like they're telling an epic story, not grinding through a technical study. At Grade 4, it strikes the sweet spot where strong mid-level ensembles can execute the composer's vision convincingly while younger or developing bands find real performance success.
What to expect
A swashbuckling adventure that moves with infectious energy and purpose. Bold themes stride across the ensemble like ships setting sail, while harmonic colors shift to suggest mystery and intrigue. The overall arc feels cinematic in scope yet remains grounded in ensemble writing that rewards balanced ensemble playing.
Who it's for
Concert bands in grades 4 through 6 with solid fundamentals and willingness to engage with programmatic storytelling. The score is equally suited for festival and contest settings, where the combination of musical substance and dramatic appeal appeals to adjudicators.
How to get the most out of it
- Emphasize the contrasting character of each legend represented in the score; the thematic transformations are compositional signposts that help students understand the program narrative and give them concrete targets for ensemble balance and phrasing.
- Use the recorded accompaniment in MakeMusic Cloud to lock the ensemble's sense of drive and tempo consistency, especially during the energetic passages where younger musicians can rush without realizing it.
- Shape the melodic lines with clear articulation and release; this music thrives on rhythmic clarity and space between phrases, which brings out Gassi's orchestration.
How to use it
This works as a strong opener or centerpiece for a fall or spring concert, particularly when you want to showcase your band's ability to sustain character and momentum over a four-and-a-half-minute arc. It pairs well with lighter fare or lyrical material on the same program, offering contrast without demanding a full theme-and-variations structure.
Skills your students will build
- Ensemble balance and blend in sustained thematic passages
- Rhythmic precision and forward drive at varied tempos
- Interpretation of program music through articulation and phrasing
- Consistency and focus across a substantial four-and-a-half-minute work
- Coordination of multiple thematic layers across the full band instrumentation