Walnut Grove Suite: Concert Band Conductor Score

Chatman crafts a suite that moves confidently between contrasting characters without sacrificing structural coherence. The harmonic freshness in Fort Langley March sets it apart from standard Grade 3 marches, rewarding bands that can articulate those unexpected chord movements while keeping the forward energy intact.

The opening fanfare surges with the raw energy of rushing water; the second movement settles into pastoral reflection as a folk melody drifts above gentle accompaniment. The closing march strides forward with period charm, but with harmonic surprise lurking beneath its military bearing.

Grade 3 concert bands ready to tackle more sophisticated harmonic writing while staying within a manageable technical range. Conductors seeking a narrative arc for a concert program will find the suite's three distinct movements offer natural programming flexibility.

• Balance the heroic character of Fraser River Fanfare by keeping the fanfare figures clear in the brass without overwhelming the harmonic foundation; the treacherous river imagery calls for confidence, not aggression.
• In A Swallow in the Valley, shape the folk melody to sing above its accompaniment; even in a concert band context, the tune needs the warmth a vocalist would give it.
• Approach the harmonic twists in Fort Langley March as intentional color rather than obstacles; let the band hear how Chatman refreshes the march idiom, which builds their ear for contemporary harmonic language.
• Use the contrasts between the three movements to clarify sectional rehearsal priorities: fanfare work in brass, melodic balance in the middle movement, and rhythmic precision and harmonic tuning in the march.

Program this suite as a single contrasting work alongside more traditional repertoire, or break it into individual movements for different concert contexts. The fanfare and march work well as bookends to a varied concert, while the middle movement serves as an effective transition piece that demonstrates your band's lyrical maturity.

• Reading and performing harmonic progressions beyond the Grade 2-3 diatonic norm
• Balancing melodic content across the ensemble in ensemble context
• Articulating fanfare figures with precision and forward momentum
• Shaping phrase endings and dynamic contours in slow movement material
• Rhythmic accuracy and stylistic understanding of early twentieth century march conventions