Parade of the Wooden Soldiers: 1st Percussion
Music by Leon Jessel / arr. Ralph Ford
Grade: 3 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0002131_PC1
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Description
The parade begins with the percussion section at a distance while the flutes introduce the traditional theme. The wonderfully innovative countermelodies interwoven with the conventional theme are certain to have your listeners on the edge of their seats. With a grand flourish, the parade ends while boosting holiday spirits for all. Choose this sparkling interpretation of this classic holiday march on your winter concert. (2:00)
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Additional Details
Series:
Belwin Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
184
SKU:
00-PC-0002131_PC1
More about this title
About the Arranger: Ralph Ford
Ralph Ford brings three decades of professional experience across composing, arranging, conducting, and education. Starting his arranging career at fifteen, Ford served as staff arranger and assistant director at Troy State University while earning his Master of Science degree, eventually teaching orchestration, arranging, theory, and applied brass on the faculty for fifteen years. His work has expanded into media production, broadcast scoring, and commercial composition, earning international recognition for his diverse output.
As an exclusive composer and arranger for Alfred Music's Belwin division, Ford has created over 250 published titles for orchestra, concert band, jazz ensemble, and marching band, performed by ensembles ranging from university and military groups to community and school bands worldwide. His career reflects a commitment to accessible, engaging music that works across performance contexts and skill levels.
Why we love this
Ford's arrangement captures the march's infectious charm while respecting what makes it a winter concert staple. The orchestration builds from an intimate opening (distant percussion, flute melody) to a full-ensemble finale, creating genuine dramatic arc rather than static repetition. Band directors appreciate how the innovative countermelodies Ford weaves alongside the familiar tune reward careful listening without overwhelming younger ensembles.
What to expect
Bright and processional, with a storybook quality that unfolds rather than explodes. Ford's arrangement moves from intimate and whimsical to grand and celebratory, capturing both the charm of a familiar melody and the polish of a carefully crafted holiday showpiece.
Who it's for
Grade 3 concert bands with solid fundamentals who are ready for more sophisticated musical architecture. This arrangement works equally well for community bands and school ensembles seeking winter concert material that entertains audiences without requiring advanced technical facility.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the opening texture by keeping the distant percussion section truly recessed; this contrast makes the flute entrance sing and establishes the wonderfully transparent sound that defines the arrangement's opening.
- Shape the countermelodies with the same attention you'd give to the main theme. Ford's original writing deserves equal voice in the ensemble sound, so mark these lines in parts and rehearse them with clear articulation and phrasing.
- Build momentum gradually toward the grand flourish ending. This isn't about rushing; it's about layering intensity through dynamic control and ensemble precision so the finale lands with impact.
How to use it
Open or close your winter concert with this sparkling arrangement; its two-minute length and accessible energy serve either context beautifully. Pair it alongside more serious seasonal works to create programming variety, or use it as a crowd-pleaser bookend to frame deeper concert repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Balance and blend across sections when multiple melodic lines occur simultaneously
- Dynamic shaping and crescendo/diminuendo control at a Grade 3 technical level
- Stylistic interpretation of march form with attention to phrasing rather than mechanical counting
- Ensemble precision during exposed moments (like the opening flute entrance over soft percussion)