Tension: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Jorge L. Vargas
Grade: 2.5 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0008390
$65.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Tension: Score | $9.00 | |
| Tension: Flute | $3.00 | |
| Tension: Oboe | $3.00 | |
| Tension: Bassoon | $3.00 | |
| Tension: 1st B-flat Clarinet | $3.00 | |
| Tension: 2nd B-flat Clarinet | $3.00 | |
| Tension: B-flat Bass Clarinet | $3.00 | |
| Tension: E-flat Alto Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| Tension: 2nd E-flat Alto Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| Tension: B-flat Tenor Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| Tension: E-flat Baritone Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| Tension: 1st B-flat Trumpet | $3.00 | |
| Tension: 2nd B-flat Trumpet | $3.00 | |
| Tension: 1st F Horn | $3.00 | |
| Tension: 1st Trombone | $3.00 | |
| Tension: 2nd Trombone | $3.00 | |
| Tension: Baritone B.C. | $3.00 | |
| Tension: Baritone T.C. | $3.00 | |
| Tension: Tuba | $3.00 | |
| Tension: Mallets | $3.00 | |
| Tension: 1st Percussion | $3.00 | |
| Tension: 2nd Percussion | $3.00 | |
| Tension: Timpani | $3.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
A musical roller coaster, this enthusiastic Jorge Vargas original composition will keep your students and audiences on the edge of their seats. With an energetic pace, syncopated rhythms, and exciting chords, Tension will take you on an emotional journey that will keep your students engaged until the very end! (3:05) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Tension: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Open in the Player
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Start Your Free Trial
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series:
Young Symphonic
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
153
SKU:
00-PK-0008390
More about this title
About the Composer: Jorge L. Vargas
Jorge L. Vargas was born in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, and earned degrees in Music Education from The University of Texas at San Antonio and in Education from Lamar University. He has taught at Memorial Junior High in Eagle Pass, Texas, where he directs the concert band and mariachi ensemble while coordinating beginner instruction.
Vargas's compositions and arrangements span concert band, marching band, string orchestra, and mariachi, with works appearing on state and festival lists throughout the region. His music has earned recognition on the J.W. Pepper Editor's Choice list and Bandworld Magazine's Top 100, and multiple pieces have been presented at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago.
Why we love this
Tension delivers exactly what a Grade 2.5 program needs: a high-energy original that doesn't sacrifice musicality for accessibility. The syncopated rhythms and contemporary harmonic language give your ensemble something genuinely engaging to sink their teeth into, not a watered-down showpiece. At just over three minutes, it's substantial enough for contest or festival programming without demanding weeks of rehearsal.
What to expect
This piece rolls with infectious energy, built on propulsive rhythms and a sense of forward drive that keeps listeners alert. You navigate unexpected harmonic turns and textures that shift your emotional footing, which is exactly what the title promises: a thrilling ride that keeps everyone engaged from the downbeat to the final chord.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the Grade 2 to 3 level who want an original that challenges without overwhelming, and who are looking for contest or festival material with genuine musicality. Directors seeking to build ensemble cohesion through syncopated rhythmic work will find ample opportunity here.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the syncopated figures crisp and together by isolating rhythm section entrances in sectional rehearsal. Lock the kick patterns before layering upper parts.
- Resist the urge to slow down during passage work. The energy of this piece lives in its forward momentum, so conduct with clear intent even when the rhythmic density increases.
- Balance the ensemble so exciting chords read as chords rather than muddy blocks. Distribute dynamic weight across sections rather than letting one color dominate.
- Prepare your students for key or harmonic shifts by mapping them at the start. The emotional journey relies on clarity when the piece pivots.
How to use it
Program Tension as a festival or contest centerpiece where its original composition and energetic character showcase ensemble development. It pairs well with contrasting repertoire (a lyrical ballad or classical arrangement) and works equally well as a concert opener or a second-half energizer.
Skills your students will build
- Syncopated rhythm reading and execution across multiple parts
- Harmonic awareness through contemporary chord structures
- Sectional independence and ensemble balance in block voicings
- Entrances and cut-offs with precision under varying rhythmic density
- Ensemble cohesion through energetic, forward-moving tempos