The Hounds Of Spring: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Alfred Reed / Arranged by Robert Longfield
Grade: 3
Item: 35-PK00155340
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Description
Alfred Reed (1921-2005) was one of America's most prolific and frequently performed composers. "The Hounds of Spring" was composed in 1980 and was inspired by the poem "Atalanta in Calydon" by Algernon Charles Swinburne. In this concert overture, Reed captures the elements of youthful exuberance and tenderness of love expressed in the poem. Remaining true in form and intent to the original, Robert Longfield has masterfully shortened and adapted this work for younger bands. Dur: 5:30
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00155340
More about this title
About the Composer: Alfred Reed
Alfred Reed (1921-2005) shaped American band music across seven decades, composing over 150 works that became standards in school and professional ensembles. His gift lay in balancing accessibility with genuine musical substance; his pieces teach young musicians without talking down to them, and they hold up under repeated hearings by experienced audiences.
Why we love this
Reed's gift for orchestration shines in this overture, and Longfield's adaptation preserves the musical heart while fitting the technical reach of emerging ensembles. You get the sweep and sophistication of a classic concert work without the logistical complexity of the original.
What to expect
Spring arrives as vigorous energy and romantic yearning in equal measure. The piece captures restlessness and joy, moving between passages of tender vulnerability and moments of unbridled motion, all grounded in Reed's clear harmonic language and orchestral color.
Who it's for
Grade 3 bands ready to tackle a concert overture that demands musical maturity without extreme technical hurdles. This works equally well for programs looking to program a substantial single work or building a concert around a classical literary theme.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the lyric passages against the energetic sections by resisting the urge to over-conduct. Let the ensemble breathe through the tender moments, then invite the full weight of the band for the spirited returns.
- Coordinate the woodwind and brass doublings carefully during transitions. Reed layers textures thickly here, and clarity depends on precise cutoffs and releases from your section leaders.
- Shape the main theme with a long line rather than phrase-by-phrase articulation. The youthful exuberance comes from forward momentum, not rhythmic punctuation.
How to use it
This overture serves as a natural centerpiece on a concert exploring poetry and music, or pairs well with lighter fare to show your ensemble's range in a single program. The 5:30 duration makes it ideal for building a themed concert without requiring a massive repertoire investment.
Skills your students will build
- Conducting and playing through extended lyric lines
- Balancing multiple independent melodic voices in thick orchestration
- Coordinating tempo and ensemble integrity during key modulations
- Responding to phrase shaping and dynamic contrast as an ensemble
- Reading and performing Reed-style harmonic language and chord coloration