Outback Fantasy (based on Traditional Australian Folk Melodies): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Based on Traditional Australian Folk Melodies
By Mike Story
Grade: 3 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0002012
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Description
The land 'down under' is HOT! Australia holds a powerful fascination for many of us. Using folk material including WALTZING MATILDA and CLICK GO THE SHEARS, Mike Story crafts an entertaining and tuneful concert work guaranteed to make all of us think of koalas and kangaroos. This is GOOD music, mate!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Outback Fantasy (based on Traditional Australian Folk Melodies): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts 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 Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
246
SKU:
00-PK-0002012
More about this title
About the Composer: Mike Story
Mike Story is a prolific composer for concert and marching band whose arrangements and original works have become standards in American music education. His output spans multiple genres and difficulty levels, making him a trusted voice for directors seeking repertoire that engages students while maintaining musical integrity.
Why we love this
Story's gift for melodic writing shines through the familiar Australian folk material here, creating a work that students recognize and audiences love without sacrificing genuine musical development. The programmatic framework gives your band a concrete narrative to play toward, and the Grade 3 scoring makes it accessible for most high school ensembles while remaining genuinely entertaining rather than simplistic.
What to expect
Outback Fantasy evokes the landscape and spirit of Australia through music that is simultaneously exotic and warmly familiar. The work has an infectious, upbeat character punctuated by moments of reflection, capturing both the adventure and the languid heat of the outback.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the Grade 3 level (typically upper high school or strong middle school programs) looking for a crowd-pleasing piece with substance. This works equally well for directors building a festival program or seeking accessible repertoire that challenges students without requiring advanced technique.
How to get the most out of it
- Lean into the rhythmic swagger of the Australian material; let the folk melodies breathe with natural phrasing rather than metronomic precision.
- Balance the sectional independence throughout. Story gives different instrument groups the spotlight sequentially, so ensure solos and section features cut through the texture without overwhelming the full ensemble sound.
- Use the printed score to shape the arc from one folk melody to the next. Each transition is an opportunity to shift the mood, so plan your tempo relationships between sections in rehearsal.
How to use it
Program this as a mid-concert shift in mood or energy. It pairs well with more serious or virtuosic works because audiences recognize the melodies and the orchestration is colorful enough to feel like a full concert statement rather than filler.
Skills your students will build
- Phrasing and shaping of folk melodies
- Sectional balance and independent part execution
- Programmatic interpretation and musical storytelling
- Intonation control in a Grade 3 concert band texture