Valiant Fanfare: 1st B-flat Clarinet
By Steve Hodges
Grade: 1.5 (Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0000635_C1
$3.00
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Description
This majestic fanfare would be a great way to begin a concert. The main theme is passed throughout the band in a variety of textures. An effective contrast is achieved as well with the presentation of the legato second theme. A seamless modulation from E-flat to F enhances the final presentation leading to the exciting conclusion. The band and audience will be uplifted by this dynamic new fanfare!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Valiant Fanfare: 1st 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:
Challenger Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
120
SKU:
00-PC-0000635_C1
More about this title
About the Composer: Steve Hodges
Steve Hodges holds degrees from Western Oregon University (Bachelor of Science) and Central Washington University (Master of Music Education). His four decades as a public school band, choir, and ensemble director shaped a compositional voice that understands what works in real rehearsal rooms with students at all levels.
Since 1986, Hodges has composed over 120 concert band works published by Alfred Music, along with choral arrangements for Staff Music and Shawnee Press. His music appears regularly at state conventions and festivals across North America and internationally, and has been used by major television networks including TBS and ESPN. An ASCAP member with multiple awards to his name, Hodges now lives in The Dalles, Oregon, where he remains active in community music alongside his family and watches his grandchildren perform his compositions in their school bands.
Why we love this
Valiant Fanfare solves the perennial opening concert challenge: you need something that energizes the audience immediately, builds student confidence in the first five minutes, and sits comfortably at an accessible level so rehearsal time goes toward musicianship rather than mechanics. Hodges distributes the main theme smartly across the band so every section gets a moment in the spotlight, and the legato second theme provides genuine musical contrast without asking for sustained technical prowess from younger ensembles.
What to expect
Ceremonial and bright. The piece carries the weight of a formal processional, all brass and percussion punctuation, while the legato second theme introduces elegance and breathing room. By the final push into F major, it builds to something genuinely triumphant rather than merely loud.
Who it's for
Beginning to early intermediate concert bands looking for an opening piece that commands attention without overwhelming student musicians. Directors need something that shows off the full ensemble while remaining rehearsal-efficient, and this fanfare delivers both.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the main theme across the sectional handoffs as one continuous line rather than treating each instrumental family as isolated. This creates forward momentum even at easy grade level.
- Let the legato second theme breathe and sing. Young players often rush passage work; this section rewards patience and long phrase awareness.
- The modulation from E-flat to F at the final section is your aural landmark. Rehearse that transition specifically so the brightness of the new key registers with students and audience alike.
- Build dynamic contrast early. The conclusion asks for genuine excitement, which lands harder when earlier sections have genuine restraint.
How to use it
Open concert with this and signal immediately that something substantial is about to unfold. The five-minute span also works as a strong encore closer for festivals or assemblies where you need high energy and clear musical architecture. At Grade 1.5, it's accessible enough to program on a mixed-level festival without apology.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining musical line across sectional handoffs
- Dynamic contrast between thematic material (march character versus legato legit)
- Modulation recognition and adjustment (E-flat to F)
- Ensemble balance when primary theme passes between instrumental families
- Phrasing at easy grade level without sacrificing musicality