The 552nd: Score
Dedicated to the 552nd Air National Guard Band
By Carl Strommen
Grade: 3 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0006759
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Description
This bright, spirited march is dedicated to the 552nd Air National Guard Band. The lively opening flute duet, the full-bodied ensemble sections, and the closing woodwind feature make for an exciting playing and listening experience and a welcome addition to any concert program. (3:30) 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, The 552nd: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Belwin Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
232
SKU:
00-PR-0006759
More about this title
About the Composer: Carl Strommen
Carl Strommen stands among the most frequently performed composer/arrangers working today, with music that appears across concert halls, television, and film. His output spans band, orchestra, jazz ensemble, and vocal literature, and he has earned the ASCAP Standard Writers Award annually throughout his career. A City College of New York graduate, Strommen teaches orchestration and composition as an adjunct professor at C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University while maintaining an active schedule as a clinician and commission writer.
Why we love this
Strommen crafts marches that feel genuinely spirited rather than perfunctory. The 552nd balances accessibility with substance: a Grade 3 band can execute it cleanly while still delivering real musical satisfaction, and the featured sections (opening flute duet, closing woodwind passage) give your strongest players moments to shine without isolating them from the ensemble sound.
What to expect
Bright and forward-moving, with the energy of a traditional march but shaped by contemporary arranging sensibility. The instrumentation blooms and recedes strategically, creating visual and sonic variety that keeps both players and listeners engaged across its three-and-a-half-minute span.
Who it's for
Grade 3 concert bands seeking a march with genuine personality and built-in moments for section features. This works equally well for community bands, school ensembles, and military bands looking for repertoire that honors the band tradition while remaining accessible to mid-level players.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening flute duet with clear phrasing and independence; these two voices establish the march's character, so let them breathe rather than rushing to keep time with the rest of the band.
- Support the woodwind feature in the closing section by keeping the accompanying voices warm and engaged; a thin background will make even confident woodwind soloists sound exposed.
- Maintain consistent march tempo throughout the full ensemble sections to let the bright orchestration cut through without forcing dynamics up beyond what the piece asks for.
How to use it
Program this as an opener or closer to establish energy and excitement; the spirited character and reasonable length make it ideal for setting tone at the top of a concert or sending the audience out with momentum. It pairs well in a concert that mixes serious concert pieces with accessible crowd-pleasers.
Skills your students will build
- Balanced articulation in march style
- Part independence within ensemble context
- Dynamic control and support for featured sections
- Sustained tone in full ensemble passages
- Counting and precision in syncopated rhythms