Sabres And Spurs: Conductor Score & Parts

Angelo Kortyka's arrangement brings Sousa's characteristic brass writing into a tuba-euphonium quartet format without sacrificing any of the march's swagger and forward motion. The Grade 3 level makes this accessible for developing players while preserving the authentic Sousa sound. It's a rare chance to play a genuine masterwork in a small ensemble setting.

Sabres and Spurs gallops forward with the unmistakable swagger of a Sousa march. You hear the military precision, the bright brass fanfares, and underneath it all, the kind of melodic confidence that only comes from a composer who understood both the dignity and the fun of band music. It's energetic without being exhausting.

Tuba and euphonium quartets ready to step into genuine concert literature. This arrangement suits mixed-level ensembles since the Grade 3 writing accommodates developing players while offering engaging material for more advanced musicians.

• Keep the pulse rock-solid throughout. Sousa marches live and die by rhythmic precision; even the finest melody falls flat if the quartet doesn't lock together on the beat.
• Voice the bass line with intention. The tuba carries harmonic weight here, so listen for balance between melody and foundation rather than letting the lead voice dominate.
• Shape the characteristic Sousa phrases with slight give-and-take in tempo. A gentle breath at the end of eight-bar sections gives the march its natural breathing room without breaking momentum.

This works beautifully as a pops program opener or closer, especially alongside other marches or lighter concert fare. It also fits naturally into a brass showcase concert, where it can sit comfortably between more contemporary pieces while reminding the audience what foundational repertoire sounds like.

• Maintaining steady pulse in march form
• Balancing bass line harmony with melodic line
• Ensemble intonation and blend across four parts
• Phrasing and shaping within a structured march structure
• Reading and performing concert literature at Grade 3 level