The Wings of Mercury: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Owens writes concert band music that actually engages young players rather than simply keeping them busy. The structural arc here—from slow, magical opening to sprightly and playful development—gives your band a clear narrative to follow, which helps even newer ensembles feel like they're telling a coherent musical story. The Grade 1.5 scoring is genuinely playable without being condescending, and the mythological concept gives you natural programming flexibility for fall and winter concerts.

The music unfolds like a classical portrait coming to life; hushed and otherworldly at the start, then suddenly animated and buoyant as Mercury takes flight. There's a genuine sense of transformation here, with the slower magical opening giving way to zippy, energetic passages that young musicians find genuinely fun to execute. The piece maintains elegance throughout while never asking your ensemble to sit through long, static sections.

This score and parts set is designed for developing concert bands at the Grade 1.5 level—typically a first-year high school band or an advanced middle school ensemble. Directors working with younger players who are still building facility will find the technical demands manageable without sacrificing musical substance, making this ideal for programs that need accessible festival and concert repertoire.

• Shape the opening section with dynamic restraint; let the sustained notes breathe and allow the slower tempo to establish the magical atmosphere before the transition occurs.
• Balance the playful middle section carefully so it doesn't overshadow the lyrical material; younger bands tend to rush when the music gets lighter in character.
• Use the recorded accompaniment (when available) as a rehearsal tool to lock in ensemble precision during the sectional work, then gradually move toward independence.
• Emphasize the contrast between sections at the micro level; small adjustments in articulation and vibrato (for appropriate instruments) between the languid opening and the spritely passages will sharpen the overall effect.

This works beautifully as a concert opener or closer, especially for fall programming where audiences enjoy the mythological imagery. The Grade 1.5 difficulty makes it a strong candidate for festival play, and the engaging character means it will hold audience interest even in a longer concert. Consider pairing it with other programmatic works to build a concert theme around storytelling and imagery.

• Contrasting articulation and phrasing between slow lyrical sections and fast playful passages
• Dynamic control in sustained, quiet openings
• Ensemble precision during rhythmic transitions between contrasting tempos
• Musicality in programmatic performance (translating narrative into sound)
• Balance and blend across the full ensemble in Grade 1.5 voicing