Sixty-Six: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: Sixty-Six: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-50665S
Price: 15.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Robert Sheldon

Grade: 5

Item: 00-50665S

$15.00

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Embark on this musical road trip along the legendary Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, including references to the music of its heyday in the 1940s, the quirky attractions, neon signs, and the towns that have since faded following the end of the fabled highway's era. From the opening symphonic fanfare to inspiring jazz and everything in between, Sixty-Six, by Robert Sheldon, plays surprisingly well and is guaranteed to bring down the house! (8:00)

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Series: MakeMusic Symphonic Band

Publisher: MakeMusic Publications

ISBN10: 1-4706-6057-1

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-6057-4

UPC: 038081577371

SKU: 00-50665S

More about this title

About the Composer: Robert Sheldon

Robert Sheldon's compositions for wind band appear on contest schedules and concert programs internationally. His accolades include honors from the American School Band Director's Association, Phi Beta Mu, and ASCAP, and he holds a honorary doctorate from VanderCook College of Music. He co-authored Sound Innovations for Concert Band and continues to accept commissions while publishing regularly for band repertoire.

As a guest conductor and clinician, Sheldon has led All-State and Regional Honor Bands across the United States and internationally in Japan, Canada, Italy, Germany, Australia, and China. His works have been performed at Carnegie Hall, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Boston Symphony Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and the Kennedy Center. His music resonates because it balances technical craft with genuine expression, earning him a place among the most widely performed wind band composers of our time.

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Why we love this

Sheldon writes pieces that students actually want to play and audiences genuinely enjoy hearing. Sixty-Six blends accessible Grade 5 voicing with sophisticated musical storytelling, so your ensemble gets to perform something with real substance without wrestling through unnecessary technical barriers. The programmatic Route 66 narrative gives every section a reason to be excited about their part.

What to expect

Sixty-Six captures the open-road romanticism of mid-20th-century American travel, mixing the optimism of a 1940s big band sound with wistful references to landmarks now faded into history. The piece swings between bright, forward-moving passages and moments of nostalgia, creating the sense of watching neon signs flash past against an endless horizon.

Who it's for

Conductors programming a Grade 5 concert band that wants repertoire with narrative weight and popular appeal. This works for bands ready to tackle stylistic variety and musical storytelling without excessive technical demand, making it ideal for students who respond to pieces with cultural context and dramatic arc.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the opening symphonic fanfare to establish the grandeur of the American road, using dynamic contrast to draw the audience into the journey before the jazz references arrive.
Balance the various stylistic shifts (1940s references, jazz passages, faded Americana) by adjusting articulation and tone color rather than tempo, keeping the narrative clear throughout.
Lock the rhythmic precision in the jazz sections by having the rhythm section anchor the groove; these moments define the piece's character and require ensemble cohesion.
Work the climactic sections with your full dynamic range, resisting the urge to peak too early; save your biggest sonority for moments where the band has earned it through phrasing.

How to use it

Position this as a centerpiece for a spring or early fall concert themed around American music or cultural history. Its eight-minute duration and contest-festival appeal make it equally strong for festival competitions or standalone community concerts where you want to showcase your band's versatility and musicality.