Spirit Of '44: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$60.00 USD

Spirit Of '44: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Spirit Of '44: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-RWS171300
Price: 60.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Concert March

By Bob Cotter

Grade: 2.5

Item: 98-RWS171300

$60.00

Shipped

One moment…

Toward the end of WWII, both sides had amassed a great number of POW's. These people were used as labor to build roads and bridges. To keep moral high, the POW's made up songs that were sung or whistled. These tunes made the work go faster and were used to communicate messages. The "Spirit of '44" was written in honor of those valiant men and women. Try whistling the melody. It might raise your spirits, too.

Original Item#: RWS-1713-00

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Series: RWS - Developing Band

Publisher: RWS Music Company

ISBN10: 1-4706-9507-3

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-9507-1

UPC: 038081610924

SKU: 98-RWS171300

More about this title

Why we love this

Bob Cotter captures something genuinely moving here: the resilience of POWs finding moments of dignity through song. The Grade 2.5 scoring gives young bands real substance to play without overwhelming them, and the programmatic story gives every section a reason to care about their part. Whistleable melodies paired with straightforward arranging make this accessible enough for developing ensembles while honoring the historical weight of its inspiration.

What to expect

Clear, direct, and quietly powerful. The melody is built to stay with you, the kind of tune that lingers after you've heard it once. There's patriotic pride here, but it's grounded in human resilience rather than bluster. Young players often discover they can make something meaningful happen when they play it.

Who it's for

Developing concert bands at the Grade 2.5 level who are ready for music with substance and story. This works equally well for school bands, community groups, and festival programming where you want to combine accessible difficulty with material that feels genuinely important.

How to get the most out of it

Bring the melody forward in the woodwinds and upper voices; this tune carries the emotional core, and it should sing clearly even in a young ensemble.
Use the story as your rehearsal anchor. Remind students that those POWs were keeping spirits up through music. That context elevates the whole performance.
Balance patriotic fervor with genuine respect for the subject matter. Avoid marching-band bombast; let the melody breathe and resonate.
Encourage players to actually whistle the main theme during sectionals. Cotter wrote it to be whistleable, and hearing it that way helps intonation and phrasing naturally.

How to use it

Program this as a concert anchor piece that draws audiences in emotionally without requiring them to sit through complex harmonic language or extreme demands. It pairs well with lighter fare on the same concert, or opens a program that moves through different patriotic or historical themes. The Grade 2.5 level and strong story also make it effective for Veterans Day observances, historical assemblies, or spring concerts where you want to showcase what your developing band can accomplish.