Sailing with Whales: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Rossano Galante
Grade: 5
Item: 00-PK-0008769
$110.00
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Description
Sailing With Whales is a majestic work featuring heroic brass fanfares, sweeping melodic lines, lyrical themes, and energetic, rhythmic ostinati. Rossano Galante immerses listeners in an oceanic experience as the music portrays magnificent whales seen through sailors' eyes. A powerful and bold work! (5:15)
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Additional Details
Series:
MakeMusic Symphonic Band
Publisher:
MakeMusic Publications
SKU:
00-PK-0008769
More about this title
About the Composer: Rossano Galante
Rossano Galante grew up in Buffalo, New York, and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Trumpet Performance from SUNY Buffalo in 1992. That same year, he was selected as one of nineteen applicants worldwide for the University of Southern California's Film Scoring Program, where he studied under the late Jerry Goldsmith, Academy Award winner for The Omen.
Since relocating to California in 1999, Galante has established himself as a prolific orchestrator and composer. He has collaborated with acclaimed composers including Marco Beltrami (two-time Oscar nominee), Christophe Beck, Brian Tyler, and Christopher Lennertz, contributing orchestration work to over eighty studio films ranging from blockbusters like Avengers: Age of Ultron and Fast X to character-driven narratives such as A Quiet Place and Logan. Beyond film, Galante maintains an active concert music practice, receiving commissions from bands and orchestras globally and publishing more than 68 compositions across major educational music publishers.
Why we love this
Galante's film scoring background translates into orchestration that feels cinematic without sacrificing the acoustic clarity concert bands need. The brass writing is bold and idiomatic, the melodic content genuinely lyrical rather than functional, and the programmatic narrative gives students a compelling reason to invest in the storytelling.
What to expect
Sailing with Whales opens with majesty and wonder, inviting listeners into a mariner's perspective on witnessing these magnificent creatures. The music swells with heroic gestures and tender lyricism, creating a soundscape that feels simultaneously powerful and contemplative, as if the ocean itself is singing alongside the band.
Who it's for
Grade 5 bands ready to tackle ambitious programmatic writing with strong intonation and mature musicianship. This work appeals to ensembles preparing for festival or contest programs that want to showcase both technical proficiency and interpretive depth.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the brass fanfares with dynamic purpose; they should feel like declarations, not just loud statements. Encourage the section to find the emotional core of each phrase rather than playing through the heroic gesture mechanically.
- Balance the sweeping melodic lines against the rhythmic ostinati underneath. The accompaniment patterns should breathe subtly and support without overwhelming the primary voice.
- Use the oceanic imagery as a rehearsal tool. Invite the ensemble to listen for the ebb and flow of the music, adjusting rubato and dynamic shaping to evoke water movement rather than maintaining rigid pulse.
- Attend to the transitions between sections. Clear gestures during key moments help the band understand how each new musical idea connects to the whale-watching narrative.
How to use it
Program this as a concert centerpiece where it can anchor a thematic program about nature, exploration, or contemporary storytelling in band music. The five-minute duration and contest designation make it equally suited to festival programming, and its accessible yet sophisticated writing works well as a bridge piece between lighter and more challenging repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing lyrical phrasing against rhythmic accompaniment patterns
- Executing dramatic dynamic contrasts (heroic fanfares to gentle melodic passages)
- Sustaining long melodic lines with sensitive intonation
- Interpreting programmatic content through musical choices
- Coordinating large ensemble sections to achieve unified articulation and tone quality