Saddle Up!: Score
A medley of traditional songs from the American West
By Clifton Jameson Jones
Grade: 4 (Medium Difficult)
Item: 00-PR-0003676
$10.00
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Description
Check out this lively mix of traditional songs from the American West, colorfully scored for concert band. It includes "Red River Valley," a unique, bluesy setting of "The Yellow Rose of Texas," a jaunty "Whoopee Ti-Yi-Yo," and caps off with a bright, boot-scootin' "Cotton Eyed-Joe." This arrangement is lots of fun for audiences and performers alike---a great selection to round up a concert program. (5:10)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Saddle Up!: Score 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:
Alfred Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
284
SKU:
00-PR-0003676
More about this title
About the Composer: Clifton Jameson Jones
Clifton Jameson Jones brings deep roots in Texas music education and composition to his work across band, orchestra, and jazz settings. He studied composition and theory at Trinity University and the University of Houston, then refined his arranging skills at San Jacinto College, building a foundation that informs both his original compositions and his resourceful adaptations of existing material.
Jones has dedicated much of his career to the students and ensembles of Texas, directing jazz at A&M Consolidated High School and teaching woodwind methods in the College Station Independent School District. He performs clarinet with the Austin Symphonic Band and holds membership in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Jazz Educators Association, and ASCAP, reflecting his active engagement with both his peers and the broader music education community.
Why we love this
This collection strikes a genuine balance between entertainment and musicality. Jones colors each tune with enough arranging sophistication to hold your musicians' attention while keeping the orchestration accessible for a Grade 4 band, and the medley format lets you program substantial concert material without requiring multiple rehearsal weeks on separate pieces.
What to expect
A guided tour through the American West that respects both the tradition and the fun of it. The writing captures the open-air character of these folk tunes while adding harmonic color and orchestral shape that keeps the ensemble involved and interested throughout.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the Grade 4 level who need engaging, audience-friendly material with real musical substance. Directors looking for a single piece that showcases the band's versatility across multiple musical styles and energies will find this medley especially useful.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the steady rhythmic pulse of "Red River Valley" early in rehearsal; the bluesy quality of "The Yellow Rose of Texas" depends entirely on the band locking into that foundation without rushing.
- Let the percussion section drive the energy in "Whoopee Ti-Yi-Yo." This section's character lives in crisp articulation and clear rhythmic definition from the back of the ensemble.
- Bring out the brightness in "Cotton Eyed Joe" by keeping articulation clean and tonguing precise; the finale needs to feel like a genuine celebration, not a scramble.
How to use it
Program this as a mid-concert energizer or as the finale of a pops-style program, depending on what surrounds it. The 5:10 duration and varied tempos make it work well alongside a ballad or slower piece, offering audiences a tonal palette shift and giving your musicians a chance to showcase their range.
Skills your students will build
- Executing style changes within a single work (lyrical, blues-inflected, marcato, and bright rhythmic articulation)
- Balancing sectional prominence as different instrumental groups carry melodies across the medley
- Maintaining uniform articulation and tone during tempo changes and style shifts
- Reading and responding to dynamic and expressive contrast in Grade 4 concert band scoring