The Ruins of Tulum: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Jack Wilds
Grade: 1
Item: 98-DB1568
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Description
The sounds of ancient Mexico come alive in this thrilling work with powerful percussion writing to tell the story of this Mayan city at the peak of its power. Following a chaotic opening, the piece weaves artfully through a series of cascading bell-tone passages with clashing harmonies. An ideal way to introduce students to mild dissonance in an intense and epic work!
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Beginning Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DB1568
More about this title
About the Composer: Jack Wilds
Jack Wilds composes across an unusually broad range of ensembles and genres, from children's choirs to professional chamber groups. His output draws equally from visual art, literature, and pure musical thinking, resulting in works that feel both accessible and artistically ambitious. Wilds brings direct classroom experience to his writing; he served as a public school band director before focusing full-time on composition and teaching.
Currently a lecturer at Texas State University, Wilds teaches composition, theory, and music technology while serving as Co-Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church in San Marcos. His wind band works appear on festival required repertoire lists across multiple continents and have been performed at the Midwest Clinic and national educator conferences. He studied composition with Michael Ippolito, Chris Trapani, and Donald Grantham.
Why we love this
Wilds crafts a programmatic narrative that holds Grade 1 students' attention without talking down to them. The piece balances authentic harmonic complexity (mild dissonance and clashing colors) with accessible melodic material and clear structural signposts, making it an ideal entry point for young musicians encountering modern concert band writing.
What to expect
Ancient stone ruins rising through mist and shadow. The opening crashes like structures collapsing into time; what follows is both fragmented and lyrical, with bell tones shimmering over unstable harmonic ground. The work feels visceral and alive, never purely decorative.
Who it's for
Grade 1 concert bands ready to move beyond purely tonal repertoire. This work fits bands with solid fundamentals and the maturity to engage with dissonance and programmatic storytelling without needing simplified harmonic language.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the opening chaos carefully so it feels intentional and dynamic rather than muddy. Crisp articulation in the brass and woodwinds will clarify the rhythmic energy.
- Shape the cascading bell-tone passages with attention to dynamic contours within each phrase. These sections should feel sustained and architectural, even as harmonies clash.
- Use the percussion writing as a narrative anchor. Mallets, suspended cymbals, and tuned percussion carry the story forward; keep them present and rhythmically secure throughout.
How to use it
This piece works well on a concert that pairs accessible repertoire with a contemporary edge. Consider programming it alongside standard Grade 1 material to demonstrate your students' readiness for modern concert band literature, or feature it on a concert exploring world cultures and musical storytelling.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing passages with mild dissonance and clashing harmonies
- Responding to programmatic cues and narrative arc in instrumental music
- Balancing rhythmic precision in chaotic, densely scored sections
- Sustaining tone quality and intonation across unusual harmonic environments
- Interpreting dynamic and articulative nuance within Grade 1 technical range