Ten Countries in Two Minutes: E-flat Alto Saxophone
By Timothy Loest
Grade: 1
Item: 98-PC-0000009_AX1
$3.00
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Description
Ten Countries in Two Minutes takes your audience on a musical world tour with this delightful collection of folk favorites from across the globe. Starting in the United States, the journey continues through Europe; the Middle East; Mexico; and Asia, featuring well-loved tunes such as "Old MacDonald," "The British Grenadiers," "Los Pollitos," and "Flower Drum Song." With a consistent key signature and tempo throughout, your band will enjoy a smooth performance. A vibrant, multicultural selection perfect for any time of year---no passport required!
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Additional Details
Series:
RWS - Beginning Band
Publisher:
RWS Music Company
SKU:
98-PC-0000009_AX1
More about this title
About the Composer: Timothy Loest
Timothy Loest has shaped instrumental music education across three decades, earning recognition at state and national levels for both his compositions and his work in the classroom. His pieces appear regularly on network television (The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, and others), and his landmark composition Cloud Gate drew over 5,000 listeners at Chicago's Millennium Park in 2017. That year he received the Illinois Grade School Music Association's Cloyd Myers Memorial Award for Excellence in Music Education.
Loest's catalog spans multiple publishers and pedagogical systems; he is a core contributor to Measures of Success, Warm-ups and Beyond, and several other method books used by thousands of teachers nationwide. In 2022, he founded Fanfare Music Press to produce high-quality band compositions and arrangements. A graduate of Illinois State University and Northwestern University, Loest taught for his entire career at F.E. Peacock Middle School in Itasca, Illinois, and remains active in commissioning and educational consulting.
Why we love this
A Grade 1 world tour that doesn't feel shallow or rushed: Loest balances recognizable melodies with genuine musical substance, giving each country its moment without sacrificing ensemble cohesion. The consistent key and tempo throughout mean your section leaders can focus on phrasing and tone rather than fighting technical obstacles, and your students will remember the cultural geography they've just performed.
What to expect
A musical passport that invites audiences into unfamiliar places using melodies they already know. The consistent harmonic and rhythmic language keeps the journey smooth and joyful, transforming folk tunes into a unified statement about musical kinship across borders.
Who it's for
Beginning band directors seeking repertoire that teaches multicultural awareness without overwhelming young players technically. It works equally well for concert programs where you need something engaging and accessible, or for rehearsals where you want to build ensemble confidence on material that feels substantive rather than elementary.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the folk melodies breathe individually; resist the urge to rush between countries. Each tune deserves its own character, even within the two-minute framework.
- Balance your woodwinds and brass so the main melody reads clearly as it passes between sections. This arrangement likely features handoff moments where clarity matters most.
- Consider whether your percussion needs to anchor the rhythmic feel or support color changes. Some folk traditions benefit from lighter accompaniment; others call for stronger rhythmic support.
- Rehearse transitions between countries deliberately. Smooth, confident shifts between melodies will enhance the tour concept and keep the audience engaged.
How to use it
Insert this as a first-half opener on a concert mixing cultural repertoire; the geographic arc gives your program shape and provides a natural talking point for your audience. It also serves as an excellent morale-builder early in the school year when your ensemble is still building basic ensemble skills but needs material that feels mature and purposeful.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining consistent tone and intonation across style changes
- Tracking melodic movement as it rotates between instrument sections
- Responding to cultural context in phrase shaping and articulation
- Blending ensemble sound while preserving musical clarity in folk melodies