The Typewriter: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Leroy Anderson / arr. Floyd E. Werlé
Grade: 3 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0001959
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Description
Leroy Anderson's music is always infectious and compelling. This wonderful flourish celebrates the clunky office machinery of yesteryear. You may have to teach a little history to your students so that they actually understand what a manual typewriter sounds like. It's a zany sound but the enthusiasm is unmatchable. Your percussionists will love the challenge. This Floyd Werle arrangement is freshly engraved with a full score and brand new parts!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Typewriter: 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:
Leroy Anderson Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
176
SKU:
00-PK-0001959
More about this title
About the Composer: Leroy Anderson
Leroy Anderson (1908-1975) composed over 140 original works and arrangements that became staples of American popular music and concert bands alike. His gift for melody and orchestration made him a household name through radio broadcasts, recordings, and film scores, and his concert band music remains among the most performed light classics in educational settings.
Why we love this
Anderson captures the personality of an everyday object and transforms it into genuine musical comedy without ever feeling cheap. Your band gets to play something genuinely fun that audiences recognize immediately, while the percussion section gets a showcase that keeps rehearsals energized and drummers invested in the final product.
What to expect
Playful and clever, with genuine affection for mid-century office culture. The typewriter clacks and dings create a rhythmic pulse that feels both absurd and oddly charming, while the surrounding orchestration bounces along with infectious good humor.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the intermediate level seeking repertoire that engages audiences and performers alike. This works particularly well for conductors who want to program something distinctly American and fun without sacrificing musicianship.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the typewriter effects (likely woodblock or similar percussion) so they sit as an independent voice rather than disappearing into the band texture. Students need to hear the 'machine' clearly to connect with the humor.
- Work with your percussion section on the rhythmic precision required for the typewriter sounds to land comedically. Loose timing muddles the effect.
- Shape the melodic phrases in the reeds and brass to sing naturally even when the gimmick is in full swing. The best novelty arrangements have real music underneath the novelty.
- Consider a brief pre-concert note or announcement about manual typewriters for younger audiences who may not recognize the reference. The joke lands better when they understand what sound is being imitated.
How to use it
Program this after a heavier classical work to lighten the mood, or bookend a concert with something serious, then close with Anderson to send the audience home smiling. It also works beautifully as a novelty interlude in a pops or family concert.
Skills your students will build
- Rhythmic precision and ensemble cohesion in sections with prominent percussion effects
- Balance and blend when secondary melodic ideas compete with sound effects
- Musical humor and comedic timing in performance
- Coordination between percussion and pitched instruments
- Articulation control in quick, syncopated passages