Quinctus: Mallets
By Brad Ciechomski
Grade: 3
Item: 00-PC-0019761_M1
$3.00
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Description
A dramatic opener or closer to your program, Quinctus, by Brad Ciechomski, is an energetic work that will make your concert one to remember. This very approachable 5/4 piece will lock in your band from bar 1. Accessible ranges, along with harmonic surprises, lyrical moments, and dramatic passages, will allow your group to shine. Quinctus, Latin for five or fifth, was specifically written to get your band easily playing in this meter. Quinctus will open or close your concert with dramatic flair.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Quinctus: Mallets comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Young Symphonic Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PC-0019761_M1
More about this title
About the Composer: Brad Ciechomski
Brad Ciechomski serves as Director of Bands at Harrison Middle School in Yarmouth, Maine, where his teaching excellence has been recognized with both the school's Teacher of the Year award (2005-2006) and the American Star of Teaching honor in 2008. He conducts four concert bands and three jazz bands at the school while maintaining an active portfolio as a commissioned composer, clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor throughout New England's district and state festivals.
Ciechomski earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of New Hampshire, where he studied composition with Andrew Boysen Jr. His works have been performed by ensembles at every educational level, from elementary through college, and have been featured at the MENC national convention. Beyond the podium and the page, he remains an active freelance drummer, having performed with jazz luminaries including Clark Terry, Mel Torme, Bob Mintzer, and the New York Voices, as well as rock legend David Crosby. He lives in the Portland area with his family.
Why we love this
Quinctus solves a real pedagogical challenge: introducing 5/4 meter without overwhelming your ensemble. The piece locks immediately, with accessible ranges and straightforward voicing that lets students focus on the rhythmic learning rather than technical survival. Directors will appreciate how it balances approachability with genuine musical substance, delivering dramatic moments and harmonic color that keep audiences engaged whether it opens or closes your concert.
What to expect
Quinctus pulses with controlled energy from the opening bar, building tension through its five-beat framework before releasing into lyrical breathing room. The harmonic surprises catch you off guard in the best way, transforming what could be a dry metric exercise into a concert piece with genuine drama and personality.
Who it's for
Grade 3 concert bands seeking an accessible entry point into mixed meter playing. This work engages students who are ready for rhythmic complexity without demanding advanced technical ranges or divided parts that require experienced section leaders.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the 5/4 pulse early in rehearsals by conducting subdivisions clearly; once your band internalizes the meter, the piece flows naturally and the syncopated rhythms become intuitive rather than awkward.
- Balance the lyrical passages against the dramatic sections by shaping dynamics with intention; resist the urge to play all forte passages at the same volume, letting the harmonic surprises breathe.
- Use the full range of your ensemble's voices to highlight the harmonic colors Ciechomski has written; emphasize inner voices during chord changes so the audience hears the richness beneath the melody.
How to use it
Open your next concert with Quinctus to establish momentum and demonstrate your band's rhythmic sophistication immediately. Alternatively, close your program with it, using the dramatic passages and confident meter to send your audience home with a memorable finale that shows how far your students have come.
Skills your students will build
- Playing in 5/4 meter with secure pulse and consistent subdivision
- Reading and maintaining syncopated rhythms across meter changes
- Balancing dynamic contrast and phrasing in harmonic progressions
- Ensemble precision in accessing and releasing dramatic moments