Tunes That Go Bump in the Night: Oboe
Various / arr. Mark Williams
Grade: 1.5 (Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0000219_O1
$3.00
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Description
This piece is a real scream (literally)! Filled with surprises, this comic medley combines several "scary" classics, including "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," "In the Hall of the Mountain King," "Funeral March of a Marionette" (the Alfred Hitchcock theme) and others to create a unique, hair-raising concert experience that your audiences will love at any time of the year.
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Additional Details
Series:
Challenger Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
118
SKU:
00-PC-0000219_O1
More about this title
About the Arranger: Mark Williams
Mark Williams composed and arranged over 200 works for school ensembles, establishing himself as a leading voice in accessible band and orchestra literature. His textbook Accent on Achievement Band Method shaped instrumental music education for generations of students and teachers across North America. Williams held degrees from Eastern Washington University and brought decades of classroom experience to his compositions, having taught elementary band in Washington state while maintaining an active career as a woodwind performer and arranger with the 560th Air Force Band.
Throughout his career, Williams earned recognition including honors from the Western International Band Clinic's Gralia Competition and multiple ASCAP Special Awards. He served as conductor and artistic director for the Spokane British Brass Band and worked as a clinician and guest conductor in 34 states, five Canadian provinces, and Australia. His body of work consistently prioritized the needs and capabilities of young musicians while never sacrificing musical quality or engagement.
Why we love this
Williams proves here that novelty arrangements don't have to sacrifice musicality or clarity. The Grade 1.5 scoring keeps every section engaged with recognizable melodies, while the medley structure gives your band multiple payoffs in one piece, making rehearsal time efficient and performance payoff immediate. Directors return to this piece year after year because audiences react every single time.
What to expect
The piece moves with theatrical flair, zooming from the hypnotic opening of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" into the dark menace of "In the Hall of the Mountain King" and the instantly recognizable minor-key creep of the Hitchcock theme. Surprises arrive frequently, keeping both performers and listeners off-balance in the best possible way, with moments of genuine spook punctuated by the humor of recognizing each new theme.
Who it's for
This arrangement works for any concert band in Grade 1.5 range looking for a crowd-pleasing Halloween or fall concert selection. Directors seeking high-engagement novelty music with real classical roots will find this particularly valuable, especially at the elementary and early middle school levels where the accessibility matches student ability without talking down to the ensemble.
How to get the most out of it
- Emphasize the comedic intent through exaggerated articulation and dynamic contrast. Allow your players to have fun with the unexpected shifts between themes.
- Balance clarity of melody across sections when multiple themes layer together. In medley arrangements, crisp attacks and defined voicing prevent muddiness.
- Coordinate the special effects and sound cues (particularly the screams referenced in the description) during sectional rehearsals so timing feels intentional rather than chaotic in performance.
- Use the contrasting tempos and moods of each theme as natural rehearsal breaks. Work one classical selection at a time before stitching the medley together.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece for a fall concert or Halloween-themed event, where its theatrical nature invites audiences to expect something different. It also works effectively as a second-half opener to reset energy after a serious or demanding first section, or as a finale that sends the audience out entertained. The piece's accessibility at Grade 1.5 makes it ideal for an all-band number that includes your newest players alongside your most experienced ones.
Skills your students will build
- Quick theme recognition and articulation shifts between contrasting musical styles
- Maintaining ensemble balance when multiple melodic ideas occur simultaneously
- Dynamic control and comedic phrasing in a novelty context
- Ensemble coordination across tempo and style changes
- Reading concert band score notation with clear part assignments