River Songs: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$50.00 USD

River Songs: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: River Songs: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-BD9628
Price: 50.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Arr. Douglas E. Wagner

Grade: 2 (Easy)

Item: 00-BD9628

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One moment…

Few young people live closer together than do band members, as they work together, laugh together and cry together through the years of their involvement in musical activities. It is sad indeed when death strikes. River Songs was commissioned to commemorate the lives of two such young musicians (one white and one African-American). These two appropriate works, "Deep River," and "Shall We Gather at the River," were chosen as witness to our common bonds in this life and beyond.

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Series: Belwin Young Band

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 122

UPC: 029156199987

SKU: 00-BD9628

More about this title

About the Arranger: Douglas E. Wagner

Douglas E. Wagner studied music at Butler University, where he earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees before spending three decades in high school music education and administration. Since 1973, he has become one of the most prolific composers in American music education, with over 3,500 published works spanning concert band, choir, orchestra, handbell ensemble, and keyboard music. His compositions have reached audiences across the United States and internationally through concert halls, broadcasts, and educational performances; over seventeen million copies of his music are now in circulation worldwide.

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Why we love this

Wagner's sensitivity to the emotional weight of this commission shines through in these two spirituals, arranged with restraint and dignity appropriate to young players. The Grade 2 accessibility means your ensemble can perform music of real substance without sacrificing musicianship, and the commemorative context gives your band something meaningful to stand behind. Pairing these spirituals creates a program moment that resonates with audiences and lets students experience how arrangement serves purpose beyond technique.

What to expect

These spirituals breathe with quiet dignity and reflective warmth. The arrangements honor the sacred origins of the melodies while remaining accessible, creating moments of genuine beauty that young players can achieve and young audiences can feel.

Who it's for

Bands at the Grade 2 level seeking repertoire with genuine emotional depth and cultural significance. This work speaks to ensemble directors who want their students to grapple with meaningful music while building foundational skills. It's particularly valuable for programs planning a concert around themes of community, remembrance, or the human connections that define ensemble life.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the melody between sections rather than spotlighting a single voice. The arrangement gains its power from transparency and shared responsibility across the band.
Shape the phrasing according to the text, even though your ensemble sings no words. Breathe where a vocalist would, letting silence matter.
Allow space for reflection between the two spirituals if programming them consecutively. Let the audience absorb the first before beginning the second.

How to use it

Program both spirituals as a paired set during a concert that explores themes of unity, tradition, or commemoration. The combined length and emotional arc work particularly well as a closing piece or as part of a program addressing community and connection. This repertoire also serves well during the school year when your ensemble is ready to engage with music that carries broader human significance.