True and Fair: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Cole achieves something rare here: a march that honors the British tradition while speaking in an unmistakably American voice. The melodic writing is genuinely memorable, the kind of tune your students will still hum weeks after the last rehearsal. It's the sort of piece that feels substantial and engaging without demanding technical pyrotechnics from your ensemble.

True and Fair inhabits that inviting space between ceremonial and playful. The British march form provides the scaffolding, but Cole fills it with warm, singable melodies and a character that feels both stately and approachable. You'll hear confidence in the brass, space for the woodwinds to breathe, and moments of genuine lyricism that linger.

Concert bands at the Grade 4 level looking for repertoire with genuine melodic substance. This works equally well for community ensembles, university bands seeking a confident opener or closer, and school programs that want their students to play something that feels polished without being overwrought.

• Keep the march stride deliberate and grounded; the melodic appeal depends on clarity and honest phrasing rather than rushing the tempo.
• Balance the melodic voices across your section leaders. This piece rewards transparency of line, especially when the theme passes between instruments.
• Shape each phrase with purpose. Even in the accompanimental passages, maintain gentle direction so the overall arc feels intentional rather than mechanical.

Open a concert with this to establish command and musicality right away, or use it as a confident closing statement before intermission. It also works beautifully as the centerpiece of a "march showcase" program, paired with contrasting examples from different traditions.

• Executing clear articulation in march style
• Balancing melody and accompaniment across the ensemble
• Maintaining rhythmic integrity while shaping musical phrases
• Reading and performing standard concert band instrumentation at grade 4 level