Silversword: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
('Ahinahina o Maui)
By Carl Strommen
Grade: 3 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0006307
$70.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Silversword: Score | $10.00 | |
| Silversword: Flute | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: 2nd Flute | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: Oboe | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: Bassoon | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: 1st B-flat Clarinet | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: 2nd B-flat Clarinet | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: 3rd B-flat Clarinet | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: B-flat Bass Clarinet | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: E-flat Alto Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: 2nd E-flat Alto Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: B-flat Tenor Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: E-flat Baritone Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: 1st B-flat Trumpet | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: 2nd B-flat Trumpet | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: 3rd B-flat Trumpet | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: 1st F Horn | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: 2nd F Horn | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: 1st Trombone | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: 2nd Trombone | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: 3rd Trombone | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: Baritone T.C. | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: Baritone B.C. | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: Tuba | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: 1st Percussion | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: 2nd Percussion | $3.00 | |
| Silversword: Timpani | $3.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Inspired by the silversword plant, 'Ahinahina, that grows exclusively on Maui's dormant volcano, this composition depicts the majesty of the beautiful landscapes with a charming, quiet melody. It then develops into a whimsical jig-like statement and builds to a dramatic conclusion. (4:15) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Silversword: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts 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:
Belwin Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
202
SKU:
00-PK-0006307
More about this title
About the Composer: Carl Strommen
Carl Strommen stands among the most frequently performed composer-arrangers across band, orchestra, jazz ensemble, and choral music in concert halls, broadcast, and film worldwide. His output spans thousands of works, and he has received the ASCAP Standard Writers Award annually for decades, testament to the steady presence of his music in professional and educational settings.
Strommen holds a degree from City College of New York and currently serves as an adjunct professor of orchestration and composition at C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University in Brookville, NY. He maintains active consulting relationships throughout the academic community while remaining in high demand as a clinician and commission composer.
Why we love this
Strommen captures something rare here: the ability to build genuine dramatic arc within a piece that never demands excessive technical fireworks from your band. The quiet opening lets your ensemble settle into focused playing, the jig section shifts mood without feeling abrupt, and the final build gives every section something to drive toward. It's a complete musical statement at a grade that should feel rewarding to conduct, not simplified.
What to expect
The piece opens with quiet contemplation, evoking the isolation and beauty of a rare plant on volcanic slopes. Energy shifts into a spirited, dance-like section that feels almost playful by comparison. Then the landscape itself seems to swell, building toward a powerful finish that honors the majesty of the setting.
Who it's for
Grade 3 concert bands ready to program a piece that offers genuine musical substance without technical overreach. Directors seeking repertoire that teaches musicians how to shape form and character across contrasting sections will find a reliable vehicle here.
How to get the most out of it
- Give the opening melody space and transparency. This quiet material sets the emotional foundation, so resist the urge to add dynamics prematurely. Let the silversword itself breathe before the landscape shifts.
- Nail the rhythmic precision when the jig-like section enters. The shift to a lighter, more playful character depends on tight ensemble articulation, not volume.
- Shape the dramatic conclusion with gradual intensity rather than sudden jumps. Build through layers: let the acceleration and dynamic rise work together over several phrases rather than frontloading the climax.
How to use it
This works well as a second or third piece in a concert, particularly when you need something that contrasts with heavier Grade 3 fare. Its moderate length (4:15) makes it ideal for festival programs or for pairing with a shorter opening work and a bigger closing selection. It also serves well in contexts where you want to showcase your band's control of dynamics and phrasing without demanding extreme technical demands.
Skills your students will build
- Dynamic control across extended quiet passages
- Articulation precision in rhythmically driven sections
- Shaping multi-section form and recognizing tonal character shifts
- Ensemble balance and transparency in thin textures
- Building and releasing tension through accelerating tempos and gradual dynamics