This Train: Concert Band, Ensemble Works Conductor Score & Parts

$50.00 USD

This Train: Concert Band, Ensemble Works Conductor Score & Parts

Name: This Train: Concert Band, Ensemble Works Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 36-50100275
Price: 50.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Robert Longfield

Grade: 1

Item: 36-50100275

$50.00

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A traditional American gospel song, "This Train" was fairly popular during the 1920s. It became a gospel hit in the 1930s when recorded by singer-guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Also known as This Train Is Bound for Glory, it has remained a favorite of singers in many genres and is often sung and recorded to this day. (2:00)

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This Train

Series: LudwigMasters Beginning Band

Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.

UPC: 660355177903

SKU: 36-50100275

Instrumentation: Concert Band, Ensemble Works

More about this title

About the Composer: Robert Longfield

Robert Longfield is a composer and arranger with a strong commitment to making meaningful music accessible to developing ensembles. His work in the LudwigMasters Beginning Band series demonstrates a deep understanding of what young musicians need to succeed: clear orchestration, logical part writing, and arrangements of beloved material that engage both players and audiences.

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Why we love this

Longfield's arrangement brings accessibility and authenticity to a piece that matters historically and spiritually. Grade 1 doesn't mean thin or condescending here; instead, you get genuine gospel character with intelligent voice leading that respects the song's roots while keeping every section playable from day one.

What to expect

Rooted and hopeful. The tune carries the spiritual legacy of Sister Rosetta Tharpe's 1930s recordings, but Longfield's Grade 1 voicing keeps the texture transparent and the melody front and center. There's joy in the harmony and a subtle swing in the rhythm that feels earned rather than forced.

Who it's for

Beginning band programs that want to program substantial music with real cultural weight without sacrificing playability. This works for ensembles at the start of their first year or for mixed-level groups where you need something that sits comfortably but doesn't feel like a warm-up.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the melody with slight dynamic swells at phrase peaks rather than playing it straight and metronomic; gospel phrasing invites subtle lift and breath.
Balance the harmonies so inner voices support the tune without overshadowing it; this is a melody-driven piece, and the band's job is to frame it warmly.
Let the two-minute duration work in your favor by maintaining steady energy throughout; there's no room for sluggish entrances or dragging middle sections.
Pay attention to articulation markings in the parts; they're your guide to capturing the rhythmic lilt that makes the gospel idiom feel authentic rather than mechanical.

How to use it

Pair this with a concert theme around American music, spirituals, or social history. At two minutes, it's the perfect opener to set a reflective tone before moving into contrasting repertoire, or use it as a closer that leaves the audience with something memorable and human.