The Banquet...and the poison soup plot: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Grade: 4
Item: 35-PK00438771
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Description
Providing a unique concert experience, this programmatic work depicts the story of what newspapers in 1916 described as "the poison soup plot"! At a Chicago banquet for dignitaries and politicians, a mass murder plot involving poison soup was hatched and nearly successful. However, thanks to a large number of unexpected guests, the dilution of the soup to feed everyone, and a quick thinking doctor with an antidote, tragedy was averted with no loss of life. Musical cues follow the events, and detailed program notes are included with the suggestion of including dancers to help tell the story. Imaginative and entertaining! Recorded by the University of Kansas Symphonic Band (Lawrence, KS) Matthew O. Smith, conductor. Dur: ca. 7:45
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00438771
More about this title
Why we love this
This work transforms a genuine historical oddity into concert gold, giving your band a story worth telling alongside the music. The combination of programmatic scoring, built-in dramatic arc, and the option to incorporate dancers creates a fully realized theatrical experience that engages audiences in ways standard concert repertoire cannot.
What to expect
The score captures genuine tension and comedic relief as the plot unfolds musically, building from the elegant civility of the banquet to the chaos of discovery, then resolving into relief and celebration. The seven and a half minute journey feels like attending a live historical reenactment where the orchestra controls your emotional tempo.
Who it's for
This work suits concert bands seeking meaningful, educational repertoire that energizes both performers and audiences. The Grade 4 difficulty and engaging narrative make it particularly effective for high school bands wanting to program something beyond traditional marching season fare or for programs emphasizing music's connection to history and storytelling.
How to get the most out of it
- Study the program notes thoroughly before rehearsals begin so you can communicate the narrative arc to your students and help them understand how musical events align with plot points.
- Coordinate with your dancers (if using them) well in advance so musicians understand the visual timing of key dramatic moments and can respond musically with precision.
- Balance clarity of the musical storytelling with ensemble blend; the programmatic content should enhance rather than distract from good fundamental playing.
- Use the University of Kansas recording as a reference for pacing and character interpretation, particularly during the quieter, tension-building sections.
How to use it
Reserve this for a concert where you can give the narrative room to breathe and perhaps lean into a thematic evening around American history, social commentary, or twentieth century journalism. It works equally well as a standalone feature that justifies an entire concert theme or as the centerpiece of a pops concert mixed with lighter fare.
Skills your students will build
- Following detailed programmatic cues embedded in the score
- Coordinating ensemble response to dramatic timing and narrative pacing
- Balancing expressive playing with clarity across varying dynamic ranges
- Interpreting period-appropriate musical language and orchestration techniques