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The Garden of Proserpine: Concert Band, Ensemble Works Conductor Score

$8.00 USD
$8.00 USD
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The Garden of Proserpine Cover Image
The Garden of Proserpine: Concert Band, Ensemble Works Conductor Score

The Garden of Proserpine: Concert Band, Ensemble Works Conductor Score

By Alfred Reed

Grade: 4

Item: 36-B387401
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The Garden of Proserpine: Concert Band, Ensemble Works Conductor Score & Parts

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Description
Proserpine was the Roman counterpart of the Greek Persephone, and in Roman mythology, the daughter of Demeter, goddess of the fertility of the earth, and wife of Pluto, ruler of the infernal regions. Later, she became associated with the unconscious world of sleep, becoming, in fact, its goddess, and it is in this connection that Swinburne describes her domain as one of peacefulness, quiet, slumber and rest for the weary spirits of men, in his famous poem "The Garden of Proserpine" from which this work takes its title and inspiration. The music, subtitled "A Symphonic Pastorate for Winds," is in three-part ABA form, with the third part becoming a continuing development of the first. Two main themes form the basis of the texture, each heard separately at first and finally intertwining with one another in a continually shifting pattern of soft rhythms and colors; descriptive, perhaps, of the quiet streams and luminous patterns of light and shade in Proserpine's magic domain.

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Additional Details
Series: LudwigMasters Symphonic Band
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
ISBN10: 1-63-887261-9
ISBN13: 978-1-63-887261-0
UPC: 735816105570
SKU: 36-B387401
Instrumentation: Concert Band

More about this title

About the Composer: Alfred Reed

Alfred Reed stands among the most prolific and performed composers of American band music, with a catalog exceeding 200 works spanning concert band, wind ensemble, and orchestral settings. His deep understanding of wind instrument capabilities and his gift for orchestration made him a foundational voice in the standard band repertoire during the latter half of the twentieth century.

Why we love this

Reed's approach to program music avoids theatrical excess while achieving genuine atmospheric depth. The interweaving of two thematic ideas in shifting textures creates something that feels inevitable rather than contrived, and the ABA form gives conductors a clear structural roadmap while leaving room for interpretive nuance in how the themes interact.

What to expect

Hushed and contemplative, with an almost impressionistic quality as light shifts through foliage. The music lingers in middle registers, creating a sense of suspended time rather than forward motion; listeners feel invited into a quiet, private space.

Who it's for

Conductors seeking a work that builds ensemble blend and dynamic control without relying on aggressive contrasts. The piece rewards Grade 4 bands ready to sustain soft dynamics with clarity and supports focused listening across all sections.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the two main themes carefully as they emerge separately in the A section; neither should dominate until they begin their dialogue in the middle development.
  • Shape the soft rhythmic patterns through subtle dynamic variation rather than rigid uniformity; let the woodwind colors shift the perceived weight of the line.
  • Allow the third section room to breathe as a genuine development rather than a simple return; Reed builds new harmonic ground beneath familiar material.
  • Use the conductor score's color indications as a starting point, but encourage players to listen for how their voice relates to the surrounding sonorities.

How to use it

Pair this with more energetic works to create programming depth that doesn't rely on constant activation. It works especially well as a concert closer, where its meditative quality can send audiences out thoughtfully, or as a centerpiece that frames more dramatic repertoire on either side.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustaining soft dynamics (ppp to pp) with tonal stability
  • Listening to thematic material across the ensemble rather than within individual sections
  • Responding to subtle harmonic shifts and color changes
  • Balancing independence and blend when two themes interact simultaneously
  • Following a conductor's interpretive choices in rubato and phrase shaping

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