Spontaneous Combustion: Concert Band Conductor Score

$9.00 USD

Spontaneous Combustion: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: Spontaneous Combustion: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-36691S
Price: 9.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Robert Sheldon

Grade: 3 (Medium)

Item: 00-36691S

$9.00

Shipped

One moment…

A fast-paced tour-de-force for developing bands, "Spontaneous Combustion" explodes out of the starting blocks and keeps moving relentlessly to the last note. Presented in a minor key with shifting tonalities and tuneful melodies, this musical juggernaut eventually yields to a major key, which only amplifies its inherent energy. Mixed meters and bombastic percussion help to drive the piece to the very end. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Spontaneous Combustion: Concert Band Conductor Score isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.

No sample audio found.

No sample videos found.

Series: Young Symphonic

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 24

UPC: 038081417578

SKU: 00-36691S

More about this title

About the Composer: Robert Sheldon

Robert Sheldon stands among the most widely programmed composers writing for wind band today. His works appear regularly on state and national contest lists, and his music has been performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall Boston, and the Kennedy Center. Sheldon is the lead author of Sound Innovations for Concert Band and has earned recognition from the American School Band Directors Association, Phi Beta Mu, and ASCAP for his contributions to the field.

Beyond the concert hall, Sheldon maintains an active schedule as a clinician and guest conductor for All-State and Regional Honor Bands. He has worked with ensembles and presented at music education conferences across the United States and internationally in Japan, Canada, Italy, Germany, Australia, and China. In 2020, VanderCook College of Music awarded him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his impact on music education and composition.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Sheldon delivers a conductor score that asks developing bands to work hard within their capabilities. The relentless energy and frequent meter changes keep students engaged without overwhelming them, while the tonal shift from minor to major provides a satisfying architectural arc that audiences hear and feel immediately.

What to expect

Spontaneous Combustion launches immediately and sustains momentum through driving rhythms and cunning orchestration. The piece inhabits a minor key landscape with angular tonality shifts until the climactic move to major, which transforms the entire emotional landscape and sends the piece home with amplified intensity.

Who it's for

Grade 3 concert bands ready to tackle mixed meters and push their technical facility. Ensembles seeking a high-energy opener or closing piece with genuine musical substance will find this title rewarding both in rehearsal and performance.

How to get the most out of it

Control the tempo through the mixed meters by thinking of a steady pulse rather than reacting to each time signature change. Lock in that pulse during rehearsal before the band worries about other details.
Balance the melodic content against the percussion section. Those bombastic hits need space and definition, not to bury the winds that are carrying the main musical ideas.
Mark your score with clear cues for the major key transition. This moment should feel like a genuine shift in energy and character, not just a loud surprise.

How to use it

Program this as a concert opener to establish energy right from the first notes, or as a closing number where that major key climax can leave audiences on an unmistakable high. The contest credentials and musical sophistication also make it a strong choice for festivals where you want your band to make an immediate impression.