The Forbidden City: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$52.00 USD

The Forbidden City: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: The Forbidden City: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-39544
Price: 52.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Based on a traditional Chinese Folk Song / arr. Michael Story

Grade: 1 (Very Easy)

Item: 00-39544

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Inspired by the ornate palace in Beijing, China, this arrangement is focused around the Chinese folk song "Jasmine Flower." The music is presented from the perspective of a person traveling towards the palace, with the grandeur, beauty, and spectacle gradually increasing with each step taken. The arrangement uses a variety of percussion instruments to reinforce the enchanting effects that build throughout. (2:15)
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Series: Belwin Beginning Band

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 140

UPC: 038081458519

SKU: 00-39544

More about this title

About the Arranger: Michael Story

Michael Story is a prolific composer and arranger whose work spans concert band, wind ensemble, and choral settings. His arrangements for beginning and intermediate ensembles are known for balancing musical substance with accessibility, making them favorites in school band programs across the country.

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Why we love this

This arrangement captures genuine musical storytelling without overwhelming young players. Story's orchestration uses the full band color palette strategically, building momentum and texture in ways that feel organic rather than forced, and the familiar folk melody gives students something musical to hold onto while they navigate the harmonic and rhythmic interest around them.

What to expect

Like walking through a gate into something magnificent. The piece unfolds with increasing wonder and spectacle, layering colors and rhythmic textures until the full palace emerges. There's an enchantment in the orchestration that draws listeners in gradually rather than dazzling them all at once.

Who it's for

Beginning concert bands seeking repertoire with cultural resonance and genuine musical arc. This works well for Grade 1 ensembles ready to explore programmatic storytelling and ensemble balance without technical complexity getting in the way.

How to get the most out of it

Let the melody breathe in the early exposures of 'Jasmine Flower.' Resist the urge to push the tempo; the unfolding of the arrangement depends on space and clarity in the opening sections.
Emphasize precision in the percussion parts, particularly as they layer throughout the piece. These effects are what create the sense of approaching grandeur, so balance them carefully against the winds.
Shape the dynamic arc across the full 2:15 runtime. The gradual building described in the program notes requires consistent pacing and intentional crescendos rather than sudden jumps in volume.

How to use it

Program this as an opener or early-in-concert piece where it sets a sophisticated tone without demanding horn solos or tricky intonation passages. Its narrative quality also makes it excellent for concerts built around world music themes or cultural exploration, or paired with other folk-inspired arrangements for a unified program arc.