The Cherry Tree: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$52.00 USD

The Cherry Tree: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: The Cherry Tree: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-49504
Price: 52.00 USD
Availability: InStock

15th Century Ballad / arr. Brian Beck

Grade: 1.5

Item: 00-49504

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The Cherry Tree is a beautiful and lyrical folk song dating back as early as the 15th century in the English Midlands. Having traveled all around western Europe, this folk tune eventually found its way to America, gaining popularity in the South in early 1900s and again in the 1960s. This setting, by composer Brian Beck, captures the beauty and simplicity of the original ballad while encouraging musical expression and smooth phrasing. (3:21) Correlated to Sound Innovations, Book 1, Level 5. 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 Cherry Tree: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Sound Innovations for Concert Band

Publisher: Alfred Music

ISBN10: 1-4706-4976-4

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-4976-0

UPC: 038081570549

SKU: 00-49504

More about this title

About the Arranger: Brian Beck

Brian Beck brings decades of experience as a composer, arranger, and educator working across instrumental and vocal ensembles. His compositions have earned recognition as "Reviewer's Choice" from The Instrumentalist and J. W. Pepper, "Best New Concert Band Music" from Tom Lee Music, and placement in Teaching Music Through Performance In Band (GIA Publications). His works appear on prescribed music lists throughout the country, including those of Texas UIL, Ohio Band Directors, the Florida Bandmasters Association, and the Western International Clinic.

Beck has directed bands in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, most recently at Faubion Middle School in McKinney, Texas. His ensembles have consistently earned Superior ratings at UIL contests and have been selected for honor band competitions and festival performances, including an appearance at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. He holds degrees in music education from Texas A&M University-Commerce and the University of Houston.

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Why we love this

Beck's arrangement honors the centuries-old melody while making it genuinely accessible for young bands. The writing balances musical substance with technical simplicity, allowing conductors to focus on phrasing and expression rather than wrestling with complex rhythmic or harmonic demands. This is the kind of piece that reminds students why they started playing music in the first place.

What to expect

Warm and reflective, like hearing a story passed down through generations. The melody carries an unhurried dignity, and the arrangement wraps it in gentle harmonic support that feels both respectful of the original and freshly orchestrated for young players.

Who it's for

Developing concert bands working at grade 1.5 level, including middle school and early high school ensembles. This piece suits bands transitioning from book-based material into solo contest and festival repertoire.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the melody with breath, not just dynamics. A 15th century ballad lives in its line, so encourage first-chair players to sing through their parts and let that vocality guide the ensemble's phrasing.
Keep the tempo conversational. There's no need to rush; the arrangement's beauty emerges when you allow the lyrical character to unfold naturally across the full 3:21.
Balance harmony parts carefully so the tune remains the clear focal point. Middle voices should support but never overshadow the primary melodic line.
Use the recorded accompaniment in Sound Innovations to establish a secure harmonic and rhythmic foundation during sectional rehearsals.

How to use it

Program this on a concert celebrating folk traditions or as a recital opener that sets a lyrical tone before more energetic pieces. It pairs beautifully alongside other folk-based arrangements or serves as an excellent festival selection, where its simplicity and musicality often impress adjudicators.