There Will Come Soft Rains: Concert Band Conductor Score

$7.00 USD

There Will Come Soft Rains: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: There Will Come Soft Rains: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-26806S
Price: 7.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Robert Sheldon

Grade: 1.5 (Easy)

Item: 00-26806S

$7.00

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Most middle-school students read the moving story, There Will Come Soft Rains. The voiceclock in the story is represented by the 'ticktock' of the claves, and the music is lyrical and pastoral in nature. This work expresses that we are just a part of the cycle of life and the beauty of all that surrounds us will go on after we are gone. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

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Series: Challenger Band Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 8

ISBN10: 1-4706-5966-2

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-5966-0

UPC: 038081305417

SKU: 00-26806S

More about this title

About the Composer: Robert Sheldon

Robert Sheldon stands among the most frequently performed composers in wind band repertoire. His works appear consistently on concert and contest programs worldwide, and he has received major recognition from the American School Band Director's Association, Phi Beta Mu, and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Beyond composing, Sheldon serves as lead author of Sound Innovations for Concert Band and maintains an active schedule as guest conductor for all-state and regional honor bands.

Sheldon's influence extends across the globe through guest conducting, clinician appearances at universities and state music education conferences, and commissions for new works. His compositions have been performed at Carnegie Hall, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Boston Symphony Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In 2020, VanderCook College of Music honored him with a doctorate.

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Why we love this

Sheldon captures the introspective tone of Bradbury's story without relying on heavy orchestration or complex harmonic language. The Grade 1.5 difficulty means your band can engage authentically with literary concepts and musical storytelling, not simplified versions. The clave ostinato grounds the ensemble in a single, lockable musical idea while the lyrical writing around it rewards careful phrasing and attention to balance.

What to expect

The work unfolds with quiet, unhurried beauty. The persistent clave pattern suggests the relentless passage of time, yet the surrounding music is tender and unhurried, painting a landscape that persists indifferently to human presence. There's a peacefulness here, not sadness, that reflects acceptance of natural cycles.

Who it's for

Middle school band directors who have taught the Bradbury story in English class and want to deepen students' engagement with it through music. The Grade 1.5 level makes it accessible for younger ensembles while maintaining artistic substance, and the literary connection gives students a reason to care about musicality and phrasing that extends beyond technique.

How to get the most out of it

Let the clave part breathe as its own musical entity. Resist the urge to cover it with thick band sound; the 'ticktock' needs to remain audible and slightly detached throughout.
Shape the lyrical phrases as if they're part of a single melodic arc, even when the melody passes between sections. This creates continuity in a pastoral work that could otherwise feel episodic.
Find the natural tempo where the pastoral quality emerges without dragging. Too slow loses the gentle movement of the cycle of life; too fast undermines the reflection.

How to use it

Program this early in a concert to establish a reflective mood, or pair it with other nature-inspired or programmatic works to build a thematic arc. It works equally well in a spring concert or as a bridge between energetic pieces, giving audiences a moment to settle into deeper listening.