Scheherazade Selections: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

This arrangement captures the narrative sweep and orchestral color of Rimsky-Korsakov's original without overwhelming younger musicians. The Grade 2 setting makes the work accessible while preserving the essential character and drama of each movement, so your band gets to perform genuine masterwork material that audiences recognize and love. It's the kind of piece that reminds students why orchestration matters.

The opening unfolds like a secret being whispered in the dark, mysterious and shimmering with possibility. When the Prince and Princess section arrives, the mood lifts into something lyrical and tender, almost dreamlike. By the time the Kalendar Prince's story breaks through, the full band erupts with color and excitement, building to the kind of finish that makes audiences lean forward in their seats.

This is ideal for concert bands at the Grade 2 level who want to program substantial masterwork repertoire without the technical demands of the full original. Young players get exposure to Rimsky-Korsakov's unmistakable orchestral voice while your directors maintain control over the complexity of individual parts. It's equally valuable for developing musicians who need engaging, story-driven material.

• Balance the mysterious opening bassline with the solo violin melody in the first section; the cello and bass parts anchor the harmonic foundation without drowning out the woodwind textures.
• Shape the lyrical passages in "The Young Prince and Princess" by varying dynamics subtly across phrases rather than playing them perfectly evenly; Rimsky-Korsakov's melodies breathe.
• Attack the rhythmic figures in "The Story of the Kalendar Prince" with clarity and precision so the full band section reads as energetic rather than muddy.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to lock in ensemble entrances and tuning, particularly where solos emerge from the larger texture.

Program this as a centerpiece selection on a concert that explores Romantic orchestral masterworks, pairing it with other narrative-driven pieces at similar difficulty levels. The Grade 2 setting makes it perfect for a mid-season or spring concert where you want to demonstrate ensemble maturity without the risk of overly ambitious technical demands. It also works beautifully on a concert celebrating world music or storytelling traditions.

• Reading dynamic and articulation markings across changing textures
• Balancing solo lines against accompaniment figures
• Responding to subtle tempo and style changes within a multi-movement form
• Playing sustained harmonic support while maintaining intonation
• Executing clean rhythmic figures that articulate form and forward motion