The Wings of Mercury: Concert Band Conductor Score

Owens nails the challenge of holding young players' attention while keeping the writing musically honest. The piece opens with genuine atmospheric beauty, then shifts into genuine musical humor and energy, giving your band something real to perform rather than just exercises wearing a costume. At grade 1.5, it sits exactly where emerging bands gain confidence, and the programmatic framing makes sectional rehearsals feel purposeful.

The piece unfolds like a story: first, a hushed introduction that feels timeless and atmospheric, as if you're catching a glimpse of something mythical. Then Mercury wakes up and takes off, bringing sparkle, wit, and a sense of lightness that makes young musicians smile while they play.

Emerging concert bands at the grade 1.5 level who are ready for pieces with genuine musical architecture but still need accessible ranges and straightforward scoring. Directors seeking repertoire that satisfies both audiences and adjudicators will find a reliable choice here.

• Shape the opening section with genuine control of dynamics and balance; resist rushing the "magic" that sets up the contrast with what follows.
• Let the sprightly middle section breathe with clear articulation from the reeds and brass, using natural phrasing to keep the playfulness from feeling thin or frantic.
• Mark cues and section landmarks in rehearsal so that transitions between the slow and fast material feel intentional rather than abrupt to your ensemble.

Program this as a concert opener to establish immediate audience engagement, or pair it with another programmatic piece to create a mythology-themed concert set. Its grade 1.5 level and engaging character make it ideal for festival contests where you want work that represents your band's musicality without overextending technical demands.

• Contrasting articulation between sustained and detached passages
• Dynamic control from soft, atmospheric playing to bright, energetic textures
• Ensemble balance and blend in homophonic and transparent writing
• Ensemble response to conductor cues marking structural transitions