The Skyborn Metropolis: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Ayatey Shabazz
Grade: 2
Item: 35-PK01662480
$65.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Take an exciting trip to a futuristic city in the clouds! Liftoff with a bold introduction full of open harmonies and fanfare brass before experiencing the bustling metropolis with long melodic lines over driving rhythms and tension filled suspensions. Well scored triplets and simple 16th note figures are effective yet highly accessible to young players. All sections enjoy fun and engaging parts. A great cinematic sound! Grade 2.5
The Skyborn Metropolis: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK01662480
More about this title
About the Composer: Ayatey Shabazz
Ayatey Shabazz is a composer with a gift for creating accessible yet musically sophisticated works that engage young musicians without sacrificing craft. His scores demonstrate thoughtful orchestration and a keen understanding of what makes band music both playable and genuinely entertaining for developing ensembles.
Why we love this
Shabazz captures the cinematic energy of his subject matter through smart orchestration choices that feel expansive without overwhelming a Grade 2 ensemble. Every section gets moments to shine, and the piece moves with real narrative momentum from its bold opening fanfare through the energetic metropolitan landscapes that follow.
What to expect
You're weightless in the opening moments as the brass soars over open harmonies, then suddenly immersed in the energy and motion of a thriving aerial city. The piece pulses with activity and forward momentum, creating a vivid sense of place through music.
Who it's for
Grade 2 concert bands ready to tackle a piece with real orchestral scope and character development. This works beautifully for ensembles that can handle mixed rhythmic figures and want material that sounds polished without requiring advanced technical facility.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the brass fanfare in the introduction so it projects excitement without drowning out the harmonic details. Young brass sections often play too loudly when playing high passages; dial in a focused forte rather than pushing for maximum volume.
- Shape the long melodic lines over the driving rhythms by asking players to think of the accompaniment as a pulse keeping time while the melody floats above it. This prevents the texture from becoming rhythmically muddy.
- Emphasize the precision of the triplet figures and 16th note passages during sectional rehearsals. Clean articulation here keeps the piece from sounding cluttered despite the busy textures.
- Highlight the suspension resolutions; they create harmonic tension that young players might miss if you don't call attention to those moment-to-moment harmonic shifts.
How to use it
Program this as a concert opener to establish energy and set a cinematic tone for the rest of your program. It also pairs well with other mid-grade contemporary pieces or classical works that share lyrical writing and rhythmic drive, creating a narrative arc from liftoff through arrival.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing triplet figures against straight rhythms
- Articulation control in rapid 16th note passages
- Balance and blend in multi-layered textures
- Listening for harmonic tension in suspension resolutions
- Phrasing long melodic lines while maintaining rhythmic accompaniment clarity