Walvisbaai: Concert Band Conductor Score

$9.00 USD

Walvisbaai: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: Walvisbaai: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-42138S
Price: 9.00 USD
Availability: InStock

The Gateway to Namibia

By Ralph Ford

Grade: 1.5 (Very Easy to Easy)

Item: 00-42138S

$9.00

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Inspired by the Namibian harbor town located on a wide lagoon that contains many natural wonders: thousands of sea birds, pelicans, and flamingos surrounded by the massive dunes of the Namib Desert. This serene 3/4 time composition offers many musical opportunities. (2:30) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

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Series: Belwin Beginning Band

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 12

UPC: 038081479200

SKU: 00-42138S

More about this title

About the Composer: Ralph Ford

Ralph Ford brings three decades of university teaching alongside an prolific career as a composer and arranger. Since 1999, he has worked exclusively with the Belwin division of Alfred Music, producing over 250 titles across orchestra, concert band, jazz ensemble, and marching band that are performed by school, university, military, and professional ensembles worldwide.

Beyond the concert hall, Ford's work spans media production, broadcast, and commercial composition. He has earned international and regional awards for advertising music and animation scoring, and has contributed to live radio broadcasts, television productions, and news music packages for national network affiliates. His arranging work began at age fifteen and deepened during his undergraduate years at Troy State University, where he served as Director of Jazz Ensemble I and staff arranger for the university band program.

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Why we love this

Ford writes with genuine affection for the early-level conductor's repertoire, and it shows. Walvisbaai balances accessibility with musical substance: the 3/4 time signature feels natural rather than forced, and the orchestration gives every section something meaningful to play without overwhelming a developing ensemble. This is the kind of piece that makes students sound better than they are.

What to expect

The music evokes stillness and vastness: imagine looking out over a lagoon dotted with birds, with sand dunes stretching endlessly beyond. The 3/4 time gives the piece a gentle rocking quality, serene without being static.

Who it's for

Developing concert bands at the very beginning of their repertoire journey will find this piece rewarding. The Grade 1.5 level keeps technical demands low while the evocative program and flowing 3/4 meter engage young players musically.

How to get the most out of it

Keep the pulse steady and gentle in the languid 3/4 meter; resist the urge to rush the lilting character that evokes the lagoon setting.
Balance the melodic voices so that the primary theme emerges clearly while harmonic support remains transparent and light.
Shape dynamic contours subtly across the 2:30 duration so the piece breathes without losing its serene atmosphere.

How to use it

Program this early in a concert when the ensemble is fresh and can sustain the quiet focus the piece demands. It pairs well with slightly more energetic pieces later in the program and works particularly well as a contrast to march or fanfare selections.