Steal Away Little David: Conductor Score & Parts

This piece settles in with warmth and grace before springing to life. The legato section invites careful listening and control, while the later 2/4 material has a folk-song quality that feels both familiar and fresh.

Trombone trios preparing for Class 'C' contest or looking for repertoire that combines musicality with confidence-building ranges. Three trombones or a mixed trio of trombones and euphoniums work equally well here.

• Shape the legato melody in 4/4 with intentional phrase breathing; let the line breathe, don't push through it all at once.
• Mark the modulation to A-flat clearly in rehearsal so the ensemble hears the tonal shift as a musical event, not just a mechanical key change.
• The 2/4 section needs clarity and lift; lighter articulation here contrasts nicely with the lyrical opening and keeps energy moving toward the finish.

Slot this into a contest program as a showpiece that lets judges hear your trio's control in a lyrical setting and then their flexibility in tempo and character. It also works well as a standalone warm-up piece for larger ensembles or as a feature during a pops concert.

• Sustaining legato lines with consistent tone in 4/4 time
• Executing modulations (F major to A-flat major) with intonation clarity
• Navigating tempo changes (4/4 to 2/4) without disrupting ensemble rhythm
• Balancing three voices with comparable ranges