The Harvest Moon Soiree: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$60.00 USD

The Harvest Moon Soiree: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: The Harvest Moon Soiree: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 81-CB220416
Price: 60.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Frank McKinney

Grade: 2

Item: 81-CB220416

$60.00

Shipped

One moment…

At this soirée music lovers have assembled to celebrate the harvest, play a few tunes, and enjoy a little dancing. Beginning with a lightly scored "hoedown" motif with woodwinds, the good-natured mood is interrupted by a thoughtful chorale, first stated by the brass. Contrasting consonance and dissonance are shared by each section until completed by the full ensemble. Eventually the "hoedown" theme returns with renewed energy, and the piece dances to a surprising finish.

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Series: Eighth Note Publications

Publisher: Eighth Note Publications

ISBN10: 1-77157-731-2

ISBN13: 978-1-77157-731-1

UPC: 685462027323

SKU: 81-CB220416

More about this title

Why we love this

McKinney captures the spirit of a harvest celebration without relying on folk tune quotations, instead building the entire arc from original material. The architecture is beautifully clear: you can hear exactly when the woodwind hoedown yields to the brass chorale, and the tension between those two ideas keeps the piece engaging even at Grade 2. The surprising finish gives your ensemble something genuinely satisfying to rehearse toward.

What to expect

A harvest evening caught mid-celebration: the informal energy of people gathered to play together, interrupted by a moment of genuine reflection, then returning to festivity with even more abandon. The interplay between merry and thoughtful keeps the mood buoyant rather than sentimental.

Who it's for

Grade 2 concert bands with developing musicianship and secure fundamental skills. The piece works equally well for school bands building toward more advanced repertoire and community ensembles seeking accessible concert material with real musical substance.

How to get the most out of it

Bring out the lightness in the opening hoedown by keeping the woodwind articulation crisp and rhythmically tight; this establishes the playful character that makes the brass chorale hit harder when it enters.
Shape the chorale section with long lines and warm tone, especially from the brass; resist the urge to slow down despite the contrasting character.
Balance dissonant moments carefully so they register as intentional harmonic choices rather than ensemble problems; mark these spots in rehearsal so students understand they're compositional features.
When the hoedown returns, push the tempo slightly and lighten the texture to signal the new energy; this lift makes the surprising finish feel earned rather than abrupt.

How to use it

Program this as the centerpiece of a fall or harvest-themed concert, or use it to showcase how Grade 2 repertoire can contain real compositional sophistication. It pairs well alongside more traditional arrangements on the same program, offering contrast in both style and approach.