Ultimate Valor: 2nd B-flat Clarinet
By JaRod Hall
Grade: 2
Item: 00-PC-0019310_C2
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Description
Dive into a poignant and heartfelt tribute dedicated to a brave former marine who served with honor and courage. Ultimate Valor, by JaRod Hall, seamlessly interweaves iconic musical fragments "Taps," "The Marine's Hymn," and the alma mater of the marine's high school, evoking a powerful sense of nostalgia, pride, and remembrance. (3:00)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Ultimate Valor: 2nd B-flat Clarinet 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:
Belwin Young Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PC-0019310_C2
More about this title
About the Composer: JaRod Hall
JaRod Hall was born in Texas in 1991 and has built a career as a composer, educator, and performing musician. He earned his bachelor's degree in music education from the University of North Texas and his master's degree from Texas State University, studying composition with Dr. Michael Ippolito and Dr. Jack Wilds, and conducting with Dr. Nicholas Williams and Dr. Caroline Beatty.
As a band director for eight years, Hall guided his students to consistent sweepstakes awards at UIL concert and sight-reading evaluations, with one of his middle school bands earning the Citation of Excellence, a distinction recognizing only the top two non-varsity bands in the state. A skilled tubist and trombonist, he has performed with regional ensembles including the North Texas Wind Symphony, the Texas State Wind Symphony (where he served as principal tuba), and the 3 O'Clock Lab Band. Hall's compositions have appeared on the Texas Prescribed Music List, received recognition on the Bandworld Top 100 list, and earned honors including the 2021 Barbara Buehlman Prize for his grade 2 concert band work.
Why we love this
Hall's gift for blending familiar musical references into emotionally resonant arrangements shines throughout this work. The integration of "Taps," "The Marine's Hymn," and a personal high school alma mater creates authentic weight and meaning without requiring advanced technical demands from your ensemble, making it equally powerful for a middle school or early high school program.
What to expect
The piece unfolds with quiet dignity and reflective warmth. Familiar melodies surface like memories, evoking pride, gratitude, and quiet respect. The writing suggests an intimate tribute rather than bombastic patriotism, creating space for contemplation alongside celebratory moments.
Who it's for
Grade 2 concert bands ready to engage with patriotic repertoire that carries genuine substance. This work suits both competitive festival settings and concert programs honoring veterans, military appreciation events, or memorial occasions.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the transitions between the musical quotations deliberately; each fragment carries its own emotional context, so slight tempo adjustments or breath points between sections will help the narrative arc land clearly.
- Balance the blend carefully during moments where multiple thematic elements layer together. Young ensembles can lose clarity when doubling parts, so rehearse voice independence before full combination sections.
- Communicate the commemorative nature of the work to your students before rehearsals begin. Understanding that this is a personal tribute informed by real service deepens their interpretive choices and emotional ownership.
How to use it
Feature this alongside other patriotic works during a Veterans Day or Memorial Day concert, or program it as a standalone tribute piece during a community ceremony. Its moderate length (3:00) and accessible difficulty make it ideal for a mid-concert placement where it can command full attention without exhausting your ensemble.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining legit melodic lines with consistent tone quality across phrase lengths
- Balancing multiple melodic strands when thematic material combines
- Interpreting musical quotations with stylistic awareness and respect
- Dynamic control in the Grade 2 register, shaping passages from quiet reflective sections to fuller textures
- Reading and executing parts that honor the commemorative context of a work