Stone Serpent Mound: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$40.00 USD

Stone Serpent Mound: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Stone Serpent Mound: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1458
Price: 40.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Timothy Loest

Grade: 1.5

Item: 98-B1458

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Embark on a mystical journey to a prehistoric stone serpent mound. This captivating programmatic work pays homage to Native American music and uses a wealth of intriguing sounds and innovative harmonies. A stunning opening sets the stage for the creative use of texture and harmony, as the main melody for the entire work surfaces just before the fast, dance-like section. A dark aleatoric passage features an eerie combination of trombone glissandi, shaking rattles and hissing snakes. Truly unique and stunning!

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Series: FJH Developing Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 674398227945

SKU: 98-B1458

More about this title

About the Composer: Timothy Loest

Timothy Loest has spent over three decades in the classroom while building a reputation as a composer whose work reaches performers and audiences at every level. His compositions for young band are performed internationally, and his influence extends through pedagogical collaborations on bestselling methods like Measures of Success® and Warm-ups and Beyond. In 2017, his orchestral work Cloud Gate drew over 5,000 listeners at Chicago's Millennium Park, and that same year he received the Cloyd Myers Memorial Award for Excellence in Music Education from the Illinois Grade School Music Association.

Since his first publication in 1995, Loest has written for major publishers including C.L. Barnhouse, FJH Music, and Warner Bros. Publications. His compositions have appeared on network television programs including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Good Morning America. In 2022, he founded Fanfare Music Press to publish high-quality band compositions and arrangements. Loest holds degrees from Illinois State University and Northwestern University, maintains membership in ASCAP, and regularly accepts commissions for band. He taught at F.E. Peacock Middle School in Itasca, Illinois, for his entire teaching career.

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Why we love this

Loest crafts a programmatic journey that unfolds naturally from a hushed, intriguing opening to a vibrant dance section, giving your ensemble a genuine narrative arc to inhabit. The Grade 1.5 scoring achieves textural sophistication without overwhelming developing players; the aleatoric passage and extended techniques (glissandi, rattles, hissing) feel theatrical and rewarding without requiring advanced technical skills. This is the kind of piece that reminds young musicians why they play band.

What to expect

Stone Serpent Mound unfolds like a guided exploration of something ancient and mysterious, beginning in shadow before stepping into light and motion. The soundscape shifts from ethereal and strange to rhythmically alive, with moments of visceral color that younger players rarely get to create. There is real artistry woven through accessible writing.

Who it's for

Developing concert bands at the middle school or young high school level will find this Grade 1.5 score accessible yet substantive. Directors seeking pieces that connect to cultural content, showcase creative orchestration, and engage students through programmatic storytelling will find an ideal fit.

How to get the most out of it

Build contrast between the opening's mysterious atmosphere and the dance-like section by adjusting dynamic intensity gradually; resist the urge to jump to full volume too early.
Rehearse the aleatoric passage separately so players understand their individual sound effects are intentional, not mistakes. Clarity and commitment from each section makes the moment genuinely eerie.
Let the main melody breathe when it emerges; this is the emotional anchor of the piece and deserves a sense of arrival and warmth from the full band.

How to use it

This programmatic work fits naturally into a concert celebrating Native American heritage, regional history, or environmental themes. Its approachable grade level and strong narrative shape make it an excellent centerpiece for a fall or spring concert where you want to showcase your ensemble's musicality alongside technical growth.

Skills your students will build

Creating and sustaining atmospheric textures through dynamic control and ensemble balance
Performing extended techniques (glissandi, rattles, hissing) with intentionality and musical purpose
Understanding programmatic structure and how melody, harmony, and rhythm support narrative
Transitioning between contrasting musical sections with clarity and ensemble cohesion