Sandstorm!: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Lee writes for Grade 1 bands with genuine respect for what young musicians can achieve musically. Sandstorm! packs dramatic narrative arc into a piece that's simple to conduct and execute but genuinely exciting to hear—the contrasting sections give your ensemble real interpretive work without requiring advanced technique.

An adventure told in sound. The opening captures danger and exotic intrigue with dark, driving energy; the middle section shifts into quiet contemplation, revealing the landscape's mysterious beauty. The piece moves listeners through contrasting emotional terrain without losing momentum or coherence.

Young concert bands at the Grade 1 level, including beginning and intermediate ensembles in their first or second year. This works equally well for classroom ensembles and competitive festival programs where accessibility is essential but musical substance matters.

• Shape the opening section's aggressive figures with clear articulation and dynamic contrast; let the darker mood breathe through rhythmic precision rather than speed.
• Balance the gentle flowing section so the melodic content sings clearly over lighter accompaniment; this moment of beauty hinges on restraint and blend.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to establish tempo relationships between the contrasting sections, especially if rehearsal time is limited.

Program this as an energetic opener on a concert that includes pieces with different moods, or use it as a festival selection where you need something engaging for audience and adjudicators alike. Its moderate length (2:30) makes it ideal for concerts built around a theme or historical/geographical concept.

• Controlling dynamics across full ensemble (loud aggressive section to soft flowing section)
• Maintaining rhythmic accuracy in syncopated figures
• Responding to conductor direction for contrasting moods and tempos
• Balancing melody and accompaniment in a lyrical passage