Walking Tune: Score
By Percy Grainger / arr. Robert Sheldon
Grade: 2 (Medium-Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0006738
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Description
Grainger composed this lovely tune while hiking in Scotland. This arrangement uses the main thematic material along with a combination of harmonies found in both the original wind quintet and solo piano versions. (3:20) Correlated to Sound Innovations, Book 2, Level 2. (2:05)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Walking Tune: Score 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:
Sound Innovations for Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
130
SKU:
00-PR-0006738
More about this title
About the Composer: Percy Grainger
Percy Grainger (1882-1961) was an Australian-American composer and pianist whose fascination with folk music and unconventional orchestration techniques shaped modern band and wind ensemble writing. A prolific collector of folk songs, Grainger drew inspiration from the landscapes and cultures he encountered during his travels, transforming traditional melodies into richly colored concert works that remain central to the band repertoire today.
Why we love this
Sheldon's arrangement captures the intimate charm of Grainger's original inspiration while keeping the instrumentation accessible for Grade 2 ensembles. The combination of melodic clarity and harmonic warmth makes this piece as rewarding to conduct as it is to perform, creating an opportunity for students to experience authentic compositional voice without technical overload.
What to expect
Walking Tune unfolds like a memory of a Scottish landscape, meditative and gently expressive. The work moves with the unhurried pace of someone on a country walk, allowing listeners and players alike to settle into its harmonically rich, contemplative character.
Who it's for
Grade 2 concert bands seeking a musically substantial piece that builds ensemble maturity without demanding advanced technical facility. This arrangement works equally well for programs that want to program authentic Grainger without stepping up to Grade 3 or 4 complexity.
How to get the most out of it
- Honor the tune's lyrical quality by shaping phrases with subtle dynamic contours rather than hitting marked dynamics abruptly; allow the melody to breathe naturally.
- Balance the harmonic accompaniment so it supports rather than overwhelms the thematic material; this requires careful sectional balance in rehearsal.
- Attend to the relationship between the various harmonic treatments drawn from Grainger's different versions; subtle tonal shifts become expressive devices when conducted with intention.
- Keep the tempo steady and unhurried to preserve the reflective quality of a walking melody, avoiding the temptation to rush passages that feel familiar.
How to use it
Program this as a contrasting selection alongside more energetic Grade 2 concert band standards, or use it to anchor a thematic concert exploring folk song arrangements and landscape inspiration in music. Its moderate length and accessible instrumentation make it suitable for both full concert programming and chamber concert settings.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining phrases through multiple measures without restarting articulation
- Balancing melody against harmonic accompaniment
- Responding to subtle dynamic shaping and ensemble balance adjustments
- Understanding how a single melodic idea can be enriched through varied harmonic treatment