Pride Within: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Mark Lortz writes with genuine understanding of what drives both a band and a room. Pride Within honors a real person and real legacy while anchoring itself in unfussy musicianship: the 7/8 groove feels natural rather than gimmicky, the clarinet solo carries weight, and the percussion writing serves the narrative rather than overshadowing it. This is the kind of piece that reminds your students why they show up to rehearsal.

Pride Within moves from quiet reflection into restless energy, grounded in a 7/8 pulse that feels rhythmically modern while remaining approachable. The piece captures genuine emotion without sentimentality: a clarinet's honest voice becomes the sound of doubt giving way to determination, anchored by percussion colors that shift from subtle to celebratory. By the final measures, your band should feel the collective weight of resilience.

Grade 4 concert bands ready to tackle modern odd meters and narrative-driven repertoire. The piece works equally well for honor bands, advanced high school ensembles, college bands, and community groups seeking meaningful commissioning stories with solid musicianship at its core.

• The clarinet solo sets the emotional tone for the entire work; encourage your soloist to play with introspection and genuine vulnerability rather than technical display. The opening breathes best when unhurried.
• Anchor the 7/8 section with your rhythm section and percussion. Lock the groove early in sectionals so winds can focus on phrasing above a solid foundation.
• Balance the rich percussion textures without letting them overwhelm the band. The percussion writing is integral to the journey; it should enhance momentum without masking the ensemble's harmonic colors.
• Shape the arc from doubt to triumph deliberately. The final climax lands hardest when you've earned it through careful dynamic control and ensemble cohesion in the middle sections.

This piece pairs naturally with programs exploring contemporary band writing and educational narratives. Program it alongside other commissions or works with strong cultural roots to create a concert that honors real people and communities. The emotional arc and moderate length make it an effective centerpiece that stands alone or grounds a thematic program about growth, legacy, or courage.

• Reading and performing in 7/8 meter with secure ensemble pulse
• Balancing exposed solo lines within full ensemble texture
• Interpreting dynamic and timbral shifts to serve narrative arc
• Coordinating complex percussion writing with band rhythm section
• Sustaining musical integrity through extended chromatic and contemporary harmonic language