The Masque of the Red Death: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Commissioned by the 2016--2017 William Lenoir Eighth Grade Band, Lenoir, North Carolina, Terry Reid, Director
By Michael Story
Grade: 2 (Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0007758
$62.00
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Description
Based on the 1842 Edgar Allan Poe short story of the same name, this musically colorful depiction will engage your students by adding cross-curricular significance to reading the story. Those familiar will recognize the clock striking midnight at the masquerade ball. Highly programmatic and compelling!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Masque of the Red Death: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Belwin Young Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
254
SKU:
00-PK-0007758
More about this title
About the Composer: Michael Story
Michael Story is a prolific composer of young band music whose works appear regularly on contest and festival programs across North America. His compositions combine accessibility with genuine musical substance, allowing developing musicians to engage with sophisticated compositional techniques and programming ideas without being overwhelmed by technical demands.
Why we love this
Story captures the gothic atmosphere of Poe's narrative through concrete musical gestures—most notably the clock striking midnight—that give your band an immediately recognizable anchor point for the storytelling. The programmatic approach invites students to connect what they're reading in English class with what they're playing in rehearsal, creating natural cross-curricular momentum that deepens engagement with both the literature and the music.
What to expect
The music moves between moments of revelry and shadow, with orchestration that shifts to highlight different instrumental colors as the drama unfolds. The programmatic framework gives the band a story to follow, transforming technical passages into chapters of a larger narrative arc.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the Grade 2 level looking for repertoire with genuine narrative weight and cross-curricular appeal. Directors seeking to program something seasonally relevant that also works as a festival or contest selection will find this a natural fit.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the clock chimes with precision and gravitas; they function as the dramatic hinge of the piece, so clarity and control matter more than volume.
- Balance the sectional color changes carefully so that the shifts between musical ideas feel like distinct scenes rather than abrupt breaks.
- Allow the work to breathe during softer moments; resist the urge to rush passages with lighter textures, which can undermine the building tension.
- Encourage students to visualize the masquerade setting and the intrusion of the Red Death; strong imagery will translate into more intentional phrasing and articulation choices.
How to use it
Program this in the fall concert season alongside a Poe-themed English class unit, or reserve it for a Halloween or autumn festival appearance. At Grade 2, it's accessible enough for most developing bands while sophisticated enough to command respect as a main-stage selection.
Skills your students will build
- Interpreting programmatic music and connecting compositional choices to narrative events
- Balance and blend across shifting sectional configurations
- Sustaining musical momentum through contrast and color changes
- Precision in ensemble rhythmic coordination during climactic and delicate passages