Two Bridges March: Bassoon
By Mark Williams
Grade: 0.5 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0001226_B1
$3.00
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Description
This clever work for beginning bands combines two well-known folk songs about bridges---"Sur le pont d'Avignon" (On the Bridge at Avignon) and "London Bridge." Your students will have fun playing each tune separately first, and then both tunes are combined in a unique, follow-the-leader fashion.
Correlates with Accent on Achievement Book 1, page 15. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Correlates with Accent on Achievement Book 1, page 15. 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, Two Bridges March: Bassoon 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:
Accent on Achievement
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
60
SKU:
00-PC-0001226_B1
More about this title
About the Composer: Mark Williams
Mark Williams built his reputation as one of the most prolific and accessible composers for young bands. A specialist in elementary band instruction who taught in Washington schools for decades, Williams created over 200 published works while simultaneously serving as a clinician and guest conductor across North America and Australia. His collaborations shaped music education; most notably, he co-authored the Accent on Achievement Band Method, a cornerstone resource for beginning musicians.
Williams earned degrees from Eastern Washington University and performed professionally as a bassoon player and woodwind arranger for the 560th Air Force Band. His compositions garnered recognition through the Western International Band Clinic's Gralia Competition and multiple ASCAP Special Awards. Beyond the page, he conducted and served as artistic director for the Spokane British Brass Band, bringing his deep understanding of ensemble playing to everything he wrote.
Why we love this
Williams wrote specifically for beginning band students, and this march proves it. The genius lies in how he builds the piece from the ground up: students learn each folk melody independently before he weaves them together in a follow-the-leader texture that's genuinely clever without ever feeling complicated. It's the kind of arrangement that makes young musicians feel like they're making real music from day one.
What to expect
Bright, playful, and satisfying. The familiar folk tunes feel like a friendly challenge rather than an intimidating leap. When the two melodies finally weave together, students experience that distinct joy of making something genuinely musical happen as an ensemble.
Who it's for
Beginning band students in grades 4-6 who are working through Accent on Achievement Book 1 and ready to explore how melodies can interact. The material reinforces fundamental reading and ensemble skills while introducing the concept of musical dialogue in a fun, accessible way.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melody between sections as the two tunes alternate. Since students are just learning to blend, have them listen across the band rather than only to their stand partners.
- Keep the tempo steady when the follow-the-leader section begins. Conductors often rush this transition out of excitement; establish a rock-solid tempo before the canonic entries start.
- Assign the "Sur le pont d'Avignon" and "London Bridge" melodies strategically based on your instrumentation. If one section is stronger, give them the second tune so it doesn't get buried when both lines sound together.
- Work each folk song as a standalone piece first. This lets students build confidence and hear why each melody is worth playing before the complexity increases.
How to use it
Schedule this for an early fall concert or a spring pops program where it works perfectly alongside other folk-based arrangements. At 0.5 difficulty, it's ideal for filling a concert slot that builds confidence rather than tests advanced skills, or for demonstrating progress to parents when inserted between more challenging pieces.
Skills your students will build
- Playing melody lines with clarity and consistent tone
- Listening and blending within a section while maintaining individual part integrity
- Recognizing and executing canonic texture (follow-the-leader entries)
- Sustaining focus through repeated phrases without losing musicality
- Coordinating with other sections in a multi-part arrangement