Paradox: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Story grounds this piece in a genuine acoustic phenomenon rather than abstract cleverness, giving students something real to listen for and understand. The tritone exploration works both as a teaching tool and as compelling concert music, making it equally effective for contest or concert performance.

Paradox creates an intriguing sense of restless motion, neither quite ascending nor descending in the way listeners might expect. The tritone intervals lend an unsettled, modern character that feels distinctly contemporary while remaining approachable for developing musicians.

This piece works well for Grade 2 concert bands looking to program something contemporary and intellectually engaging without sacrificing accessibility. It appeals to ensembles interested in contest play, concert performance, or both, and rewards students who are ready to think musically about intervallic relationships.

• Listen carefully to how the tritone interval appears in each section; some students may naturally hear it differently than others, which mirrors the piece's central concept and makes for rich discussion during rehearsals.
• Balance the harmonic writing so that the tritone relationships register clearly without muddying the overall sonority; this requires attention to voicing across the full band.
• Bring out thematic material as it cycles through different instrumental families, since the melodic and harmonic exploration of the tritone becomes more audible when each voice has its moment in the texture.

Program this as a centerpiece for a contemporary music segment on your concert, pairing it with familiar works to highlight how modern composers reimagine classical concepts. It also serves well as a contest selection that demonstrates your band's willingness to engage with challenging, thought-provoking repertoire at an appropriate level.

• Recognition and performance of tritone intervals
• Reading contemporary concert band textures
• Ensemble balance and voice independence in harmonic writing
• Understanding programmatic music tied to acoustic principles