Prelude and Tarantella: Concert Band Conductor Score

The two-movement structure gives your band meaningful contrast and pacing in a single rehearsal piece. Kinyon uses the prelude to lock in intonation through sustained tutti chords before pivoting to kinetic eighth-note work, and then the Tarantella arrives with genuine rhythmic drive that engages percussion and keeps ensemble energy high through the final climax.

The prelude unfolds with intimate, contemplative beauty as voices blend into warm chords before fragmenting into rippling eighth notes. The Tarantella erupts with spirited, dance-like energy in minor mode, its traditional 6/8 pulse building momentum until the ensemble crashes into a thrilling finish.

Grade 3 concert bands seeking a two-part piece that covers both lyrical ensemble work and rhythmic drive without requiring advanced technical facility. This score is also valuable for conductors who want to demonstrate how a single work can address multiple musicianship goals in one rehearsal.

• Shape the prelude's sustained chords by having the band breathe together before each vertical sonority; this unified air support improves both intonation and blend.
• Mark the eighth-note handoffs in the prelude during sectional rehearsals to ensure smooth articulation and dynamic consistency as the melody passes between instruments.
• Give the percussion section a clear pulse leader in the Tarantella's 6/8 feel so the ensemble locks into the traditional meter and resists rushing toward the climax.

Use this as a centerpiece for a Grade 3 concert, pairing it with a march or chorale to create a varied program that showcases both your ensemble's refinement and its rhythmic vitality. It also works well mid-season as a morale piece that rewards recent progress on tone and intonation while introducing genuine performance excitement.

• Ensemble intonation through sustained tutti chords
• Smooth articulation and balance in passing melody lines
• Reading and executing 6/8 meter in minor mode
• Rhythmic precision and pulse stability in driving, punctuated textures
• Dynamic control and phrase shaping across contrasting musical sections