Ride On: 1st B-flat Clarinet

Bernotas crafts concert band music that feels genuinely musical without requiring virtuosic demands from every section. The writing sits comfortably for Grade 4 bands, allowing students to focus on interpretation and ensemble balance rather than wrestling with technical complexity.

The music moves with a sense of purpose and forward momentum. Bernotas creates an approachable soundworld that feels contemporary without being austere, blending melodic clarity with harmonic interest that keeps the ensemble engaged throughout.

This score and parts set works for concert bands at the Grade 4 level seeking a work suitable for both concert performance and festival competition. Directors building programs that need a polished, musically rewarding piece without extended rehearsal demands will find this a reliable choice.

• Balance the melodic voices against the harmonic foundation. In light concert work like this, clarity of line matters more than dynamic extremes.
• Attend to the middle voices. Bernotas typically voices his material across the full band, so ignore the inner woodwinds and brass at your peril.
• Let the piece breathe. Grade 4 repertoire often benefits from slightly relaxed tempos that allow the band to hear and respond to each other.

This works well as a centerpiece on a concert program where you want to showcase solid fundamentals and musical phrasing rather than technical fireworks. It also pairs effectively with both classical and contemporary works, making it flexible for mixed programming.

• Sustaining consistent ensemble balance across multiple voice parts
• Responding to subtle dynamic shaping and phrase contour
• Maintaining rhythmic precision without mechanical playing
• Listening across the band to identify and blend with surrounding voices