Old Stomping Grounds: Concert Band Conductor Score

Rustic energy mixed with genuine affection for folk sources. The barn dance opening puts you in a village square or harvest celebration; the jig section lets you catch your breath before the music gathers momentum one final time. It's nostalgic without being sentimental.

Concert bands at the intermediate level looking for repertoire that connects to folk traditions without sacrificing musical substance. Directors who want their students to experience strong structural storytelling while building ensemble balance and rhythmic clarity.

• Establish the rhythmic accompaniment as a rock-solid foundation before layering the melodic lines; these early American textures thrive on precision and groove.
• Find the contrast in tempo and dynamics between the barn dance sections and the jig. The calmer middle section should breathe without losing forward motion.
• Let the return of the frenzied theme build naturally from the jig material rather than arriving as a surprise; your audience should feel it developing.

Pair this with other American or Celtic-influenced works to build a thematic concert, or place it mid-program where its lighter character and clear narrative arc can shift the mood between heavier contemporary pieces. The energetic conclusion makes it an excellent bridge into a more ambitious work.

• Rhythmic precision in compound and simple meters
• Balance between accompaniment figures and melodic lines
• Stylistic interpretation of folk-influenced material
• Ensemble cohesion during tempo and dynamic transitions
• Reading articulation and phrasing cues from a conductor score