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The Firebird Suite for Symphonic Band: Concert Band Conductor Score

$35.00 USD

The Firebird Suite for Symphonic Band: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: The Firebird Suite for Symphonic Band: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 36-10105354
Price: 35.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Igor Stravinsky / arr. Randy Earles, Frederick Fennell

Grade: 5

Item: 36-10105354

$35.00

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This transcription for band by Randy Earles (edited by the great Frederick Fennell) of Stravinsky's 1919 version of The Firebird Suite owes its existence to the incomparable school band program, long the pride of the state of Texas. It is in the spirit of Texas' competitive band programs that caused Randy Earles to be retained to prepare this transcription, with all of the familiar reed and brass instrumental solos present in this un-cut presentation of this masterpiece. Never an easy piece, this complete presentation will challenge both conductors and players in all aspects of education and performance.

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Series: Fennell Editions - LudwigMasters

Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.

ISBN10: 1-58-106770-4

ISBN13: 978-1-58-106770-5

UPC: 746241295101

SKU: 36-10105354

Instrumentation: Concert Band

More about this title

About the Composer: Igor Stravinsky

Igor Stravinsky revolutionized orchestral writing through radical harmonic language, rhythmic complexity, and instrumental color. His works challenged performers and audiences alike, demanding that musicians expand their technical and interpretive capabilities. The Firebird Suite stands as one of his most accessible masterworks, yet it retains the compositional sophistication that made Stravinsky one of the 20th century's most influential voices.

For band directors, Stravinsky's approach to orchestration translates powerfully to the concert band medium. This transcription preserves the textural clarity and instrumental independence that define his style, creating an opportunity for students to experience a genuine twentieth-century masterpiece rather than a simplified adaptation.

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Why we love this

Randy Earles and Frederick Fennell have preserved every essential voice and solo from the original 1919 score without compromise, which means your musicians engage with Stravinsky's actual orchestration rather than a watered-down version. Grade 5 is legitimately challenging here, so your students will feel the weight of tackling a work that sits alongside the most significant twentieth-century compositions. Programming this signals to adjudicators and audiences that your band is serious about artistic merit.

What to expect

Stravinsky's Firebird burns with sharp colors and sudden dynamic shifts. The famous Russian themes emerge from a glittering, dissonant landscape of blocked chords and rhythmic ostinatos, creating moments of stunning clarity punctuated by dense, shimmering textures. It's simultaneously exotic and modern, lyrical and percussive.

Who it's for

Advanced high school or college bands ready to tackle a significant twentieth-century work. This demands strong solo players, secure rhythm section, and a conductor comfortable with Stravinsky's angular harmonies and shifting meters.

How to get the most out of it

Map out all reed and brass solos in sectional rehearsals before full band runs. The writing exposes every player, so solo confidence directly impacts ensemble clarity.
Lock tempos across movement transitions carefully; Stravinsky's rhythmic language demands precision at every tempo change, and rubato will muddy rather than clarify his intentions.
Balance upper woodwinds and trumpet solos above the harmonic foundation; the orchestration is deliberately transparent, so every voice must speak without forcing.

How to use it

Close a spring concert with this if your band has depth in soloists and a rock-solid conductor. It pairs naturally with other twentieth-century masterworks or can stand alone as a statement of your program's ambition. The uncut version's length and complexity make it a festival-worthy centerpiece rather than a program filler.