Tin Man Does the Iron City: Score
By Rick Hirsch
Grade: 1.5 (Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0006641
$8.00
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Description
Imagine the Tin Man (from The Wizard of Oz) spending a day bopping around Pittsburgh back when that city's life centered around its busy steel mills and factories. The percussion section enhances the mechanical nature of this quirky, programmatic piece. (2:30) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Tin Man Does the Iron City: Score 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:
Alfred Debut Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
124
SKU:
00-PR-0006641
More about this title
About the Composer: Rick Hirsch
Rick Hirsch earned degrees from UMass-Amherst and Northern Illinois University, launching his professional life as a music copyist for jazz luminaries Bob Mintzer and Toshiko Akiyoshi. His compositions have been performed by world-class ensembles including the Capitol Quartet and the Penn State Blue Band, and he has written for jazz legends Yusef Lateef and Eddie Henderson.
Hirsch remains active as a guest conductor for All-State and District Jazz Bands and previously held a faculty position at Penn State University. In 2017, his group Rick Hirsch's BIG OL' BAND released their debut album, Pocono Git-Down, showcasing the thriving jazz communities often overlooked beyond major metropolitan centers.
Why we love this
Hirsch brings a composer's ear for narrative and an arranger's understanding of how to make Grade 1.5 sound engaging. The concept itself—the Tin Man loose in industrial Pittsburgh—gives students a vivid scene to imagine, while the percussion writing transforms the orchestra into a steel mill without ever feeling forced or overly complex.
What to expect
Quirky and kinetic, like watching a beloved character navigate a world of clanging metal and industrial energy. The brass and woodwinds bounce and weave through percussive textures that evoke gears, bells, and the relentless motion of a working steel mill, all while maintaining a wink and a smile.
Who it's for
This piece serves young concert bands ready to tackle programmatic storytelling with character and humor. It works equally well for ensembles still building foundational blend and balance and for groups eager to explore music that connects to literature and geography in unexpected ways.
How to get the most out of it
- Emphasize the mechanical precision of the percussion section as the heartbeat of the piece; these rhythms drive the programmatic storytelling and deserve clean attacks and even dynamics from your battery.
- Balance the melody against the industrial accompaniment so listeners hear the Tin Man's journey, not just factory sounds; this prevents the piece from becoming rhythm-focused at the expense of line.
- Use the recorded accompaniment (available separately) if your percussion section needs support locking the syncopated rhythms; this is especially helpful in early rehearsals.
How to use it
Program this as a conversation starter on a family concert or young people's matinee where the Wizard of Oz connection and Pittsburgh geography catch listeners' attention. It pairs well with other narrative or character-driven pieces at similar levels and gives students a chance to perform something genuinely entertaining rather than purely technical.
Skills your students will build
- Executing rhythmic precision in a syncopated, percussion-driven texture
- Balancing melody against complex rhythmic accompaniment
- Maintaining character and style in light, programmatic concert music
- Coordinating with a robust percussion section and responding to its rhythmic leadership
- Reading and performing parts in the Grade 1.5 range with secure intonation and ensemble blend