Undecim: B-flat Tenor Saxophone

The metric ingenuity here is the draw. Rather than simply alternating time signatures, Standridge uses the math of the meters themselves as the compositional concept, creating a rhythmic hook that sticks with audiences and gives your ensemble a genuine interpretive challenge. It's the kind of opener that announces you're programming something thoughtful, not just filling a slot.

High-octane and purposeful. The alternating meters create a forward-lurching momentum, like something urgent pushing toward a deadline. Despite the complexity under the hood, the piece feels visceral and driving, not cerebral or academic.

Concert bands at the Grade 4 level who are ready to tackle metric complexity as a compositional tool, not just a technical exercise. This works for ensembles preparing for festival adjudication or seeking a statement-making concert opener that audiences will remember.

• Lock the meter combinations in sectional rehearsals before running full passages. Have each section count the 7/8 + 2/4 pattern independently first, then bring them together so the ensemble feels unified rather than fragmented.
• Maintain consistent energy throughout the three-minute duration. The high-octane character can fade if articulation softens in the second half; mark staccato and tonguing expectations clearly in parts and reinforce them in rehearsal.
• Balance the harmonic colors across the band. With a Grade 4 difficulty level, inner voices carry important material; ensure woodwind sections and low brass aren't swallowed by trumpet or clarinet lines.
• Use a clear, decisive conducting pattern for the meter shifts. Your hands should telegraph the 7/8 feel distinctly so the ensemble stays locked, especially during ensemble hits and rests.

Program this as your opening number to set an energized tone and signal that your concert is built on careful compositional choices. Its three-minute duration makes it ideal for the first spot after a brief welcome, leaving room for contrasting material in the body of your program. It also serves well in contests or festivals where judges expect to see command of contemporary musical language.

• Reading and executing mixed meters (7/8 and 2/4 within the same phrase)
• Maintaining ensemble unity across metric complexity
• Precision articulation and rhythmic subdivision
• Interpreting and sustaining high-energy musical character over extended duration