Walnut Grove Suite: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Chatman gives you three distinct musical movements that each stand on their own merit while forming a cohesive suite, so you get variety without compromising unity. The harmonic language keeps Grade 3 players engaged without overwhelming them, and the folk tune integration in the second movement provides a moment of lyrical relief between the bracketing fanfare and march.

The opening fanfare evokes the power and danger of wild water rushing through a canyon. The central folk tune brings a quieter, more introspective mood, with the melody floating above gentle harmonic support. The march returns with energy and period charm, laced with unexpected harmonic turns that remind listeners this is modern music looking backward, not a historical document.

This suite works well for Grade 3 concert bands ready to move beyond simple march-and-hymn programming. It suits ensembles that have developed solid fundamentals and can handle three distinct musical characters with stylistic awareness.

• Balance the tutti sections in Fraser River Fanfare so that the fanfare character projects without drowning out inner voices; the treacherous river imagery calls for dramatic but controlled playing.
• Let A Swallow in the Valley breathe as a genuine melody-centered movement; resist rushing the folk tune, which needs space to sing.
• Approach Fort Langley March with the rhythmic precision expected of early twentieth century military tradition, but honor Chatman's harmonic surprises by listening carefully to chord changes and voice leading.

Program this as a complete suite to showcase how your band can navigate contrasting moods within a single work. It also pairs naturally with other Canadian-themed concert band repertoire or with programming that celebrates folk music traditions.

• Sustaining lyrical phrasing in contrasting tempos and styles
• Listening to harmonic movement and voice leading, especially chromatic or unexpected progressions
• Executing fanfare articulation and projection with control
• Balancing melody and accompaniment roles across the ensemble