Scenes from Grand Lake: Bass Trombone
By Barry E. Kopetz
Grade: 3.5
Item: 98-PC-DB1074_BTN
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Description
An ideal festival or concert winner, this exciting single-movement work is divided into five main sections. Very programmatic in nature, this piece features lively, energetic themes and swift changes of mood and style throughout. A slow, lyrical section is included with contrasting material. The intensity builds into a powerful coda which brings the entire work to a dramatic and fitting finale. (6:30)
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Concert Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1074_BTN
More about this title
About the Composer: Barry E. Kopetz
Barry E. Kopetz directs the Wind Symphony and Chamber Winds at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, where he also teaches conducting, rehearsal techniques, and arranging. His career spans decades across major universities including the University of Utah, University of Minnesota, and Bowling Green State University, with earlier teaching roles in Ohio and South Carolina public schools. He holds a doctorate with distinction from Indiana University's School of Music and studied conducting with the legendary Frederick Fennell in Tokyo.
As a composer and arranger, Kopetz has over 50 published works in print. He serves as a frequent guest conductor and adjudicator across the United States and Australia, contributes analytical articles to Instrumentalist magazine, and has recently worked on orchestrations for television and film. He was elected to membership in the American Bandmasters Association in 1998 and maintains active involvement in numerous professional music organizations.
Why we love this
Kopetz understands what contest adjudicators listen for: strong thematic material, clear formal architecture, and emotional arc that builds logically from beginning to end. The five-section design gives your band natural rehearsal landmarks while the mood shifts keep both players and audiences engaged. At this level, finding a piece that sounds substantial without requiring virtuosic technique from your entire ensemble is rare, and this one delivers.
What to expect
The music captures the movement and beauty of natural landscapes through shifting moods and vivid orchestration. Swift transitions between bright, energetic passages and a contemplative lyrical section create the sense of exploring different vistas, all anchored by memorable themes that stick with listeners long after the final chord.
Who it's for
This score is designed for concert bands at the 3.5 grade level, making it accessible for upper middle school and lower high school ensembles with solid fundamentals. Directors preparing festival submissions or spring concert programming will find a piece that balances technical accessibility with genuine musical substance.
How to get the most out of it
- Map out the five sections with your ensemble before rehearsing details. Knowing where you are in the larger arc helps everyone commit to pacing and dynamics without constant reminders.
- The slow, lyrical section needs genuine breath and space; resist the urge to rush it even if your tempo feels slow in the moment. The contrast matters more than hitting a specific metronome mark.
- Balance the lively themes so they remain energetic without losing clarity. Young bands often play fast passage work too loudly, which obscures the rhythmic drive you actually want.
- Build intensity into the coda gradually rather than switching to all-out loud at letter X or wherever it begins. The power comes from momentum and confidence, not just volume.
How to use it
Open a spring concert with this work to set an upbeat, engaging tone while showcasing your band's musicianship to an audience. Its festival-friendly structure and six-and-a-half-minute length make it an ideal anchor piece for a competitive rotation or a substantial mid-program selection between lighter entertainment fare.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining energy across longer single-movement forms
- Executing rapid dynamic and style shifts while maintaining musical continuity
- Balancing lyrical phrasing in slow sections with rhythmic precision in fast material
- Reading and responding to programmatic cues that guide interpretation
- Building intensity and climax through ensemble control rather than relying solely on individual virtuosity