Queen Opener: Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts
As performed by Queen / Arranged by Tom Wallace
Grade: 3
Item: 35-PK00307037
$80.00
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Description
Three hits from the wildly successful rock group Queen are featured, and combine to serve as the opener for Tom's show, "QUEEN". The operatic "Bohemian Rhapsody" artistically envelops and provides theatrical contrast to the stadium anthems, "We Will Rock You" and "Another One Bites the Dust."
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00307037
More about this title
About the Artist: Queen
Queen emerged in the 1970s as one of rock music's most theatrical and musically adventurous bands. Freddie Mercury's vocal range and compositional ambition, combined with Brian May's distinctive guitar work and the band's sophisticated production techniques, created a catalog that spans operatic grandeur, stadium rock, and funk-influenced grooves. Their influence on popular music remains profound, and their work translates surprisingly well to ensemble settings because of its strong melodic writing and dynamic range.
Why we love this
This opener captures what makes Queen special: the contrast between theatrical ambition and raw energy. Tom Wallace's arrangement lets your band tackle "Bohemian Rhapsody" with genuine dramatic weight while the back-to-back punch of "We Will Rock You" and "Another One Bites the Dust" gives you a closer that audiences instantly recognize. At Grade 3, the writing stays playable without sacrificing the songs' iconic character.
What to expect
You're walking the line between concert hall and arena. "Bohemian Rhapsody" unfolds with unexpected depth and theatrical vulnerability, then the crowd-pleasing stomp and funk of the closing numbers snap the band and audience into high gear. The whole arc is about dynamic storytelling through rock music.
Who it's for
Band directors looking for a modern opener that engages both players and audiences. The Grade 3 level makes it accessible for high school bands while the Queen material keeps it fresh and relevant for students who grew up hearing these songs.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the operatic sections of "Bohemian Rhapsody" with clear dynamic control; the piece demands contrast between the intimate passages and the full-ensemble moments.
- Lock the rhythm section (bass drum, snare, pit percussion) tight on "We Will Rock You" and "Another One Bites the Dust" since these tracks rely on a groove that keeps the energy honest.
- Give your front ensemble room to shine in the ballad passages; their precision on the articulations will define whether the theatrical elements land.
- Prepare your brass for sudden timbral shifts, especially moving from the more subdued writing in "Bohemian Rhapsody" into the full power of the two stadium anthems.
How to use it
Open a concert or competition set with this to immediately establish an adventurous programming identity. The progression from opera-influenced writing to straight-ahead rock gives you a natural dramatic arc that works equally well in a traditional concert or as a standalone feature number.
Skills your students will build
- Executing dynamic contrast between operatic and rock idioms within a single piece
- Locking in a groove-based rhythm with precision and consistency
- Balancing ensemble blend during rapid timbral shifts
- Reading and performing articulation changes that define character in rock arrangements
- Managing tempo stability across contrasting musical sections