War Dance of the Seven Serpents Cover Image

War Dance of the Seven Serpents: Concert Band Conductor Score

$12.00 USD
$12.00 USD
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War Dance of the Seven Serpents Cover Image
War Dance of the Seven Serpents: Concert Band Conductor Score

War Dance of the Seven Serpents: Concert Band Conductor Score

By Brian Beck

Grade: 2

Item: 00-50399S
$12.00
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Description
War Dance of the Seven Serpents, by Brian Beck, is a fantastic showcase for developing musicians. It exhibits many aspects, styles, and techniques included in more sophisticated music that challenge players while being sensitive to range, rhythm, and difficulty. Bound to become a staple in young band literature!

The piece and its title pay homage to the classical works of Gustav Holst and Silvestre Revueltas. "War" is derived from "Mars," from Holst's The Planets, as well as many of this piece's driving rhythms. "Seven" refers to the overall meter of the piece (4+3=7). "Serpents" alludes to Revueltas' Sensemayá, a piece (also in 7/4) that tells a story of a ritual involving a snake.

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Additional Details
Series: Developing Band
Publisher: Alfred Music
ISBN10: 1-4706-8274-5
ISBN13: 978-1-4706-8274-3
UPC: 038081607764
SKU: 00-50399S

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Beck

Brian Beck

Brian Beck is a composer and arranger whose works span instrumental and vocal ensembles across all levels. His compositions have been performed at TMEA Honor Band concerts, regional and national clinics, and UIL state competitions, earning recognition including "Reviewer's Choice" from The Instrumentalist and "Best New Concert Band Music" from Tom Lee Music. His music appears on the Texas UIL Prescribed Music list, Florida Bandmasters Association catalog, and in the GIA Publications series Teaching Music Through Performance In Band.

Beck holds degrees in music education from Texas A&M University-Commerce and the University of Houston. He has directed award-winning bands at both middle and high school levels in Texas, with ensembles under his direction earning consistent Superior ratings at UIL contests and invitations to perform at prestigious venues including the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. His background as a TMEA All-State member and product of the Duncanville Band Program informs his understanding of what developing musicians need to grow.

Why we love this

War Dance of the Seven Serpents delivers sophisticated musical ideas within the technical reach of Grade 2 players. Beck layers driving rhythms, varied textures, and genuine compositional depth without overextending ranges or demanding impossible rhythmic precision, making it genuinely engaging for both students and audiences rather than condescending. The homage to Holst and Revueltas gives context to what might otherwise feel like a simple showcase piece, inviting directors to teach about influence, meter, and program notes alongside the music itself.

What to expect

Rhythmically energetic and purposeful, with an undercurrent of ritual intensity inspired by its classical models. The serpent imagery and 7/4 meter create something that feels both structured and slightly exotic, full of forward motion while maintaining clarity suitable for young musicians.

Who it's for

Grade 2 concert bands looking for repertoire that challenges technique and musicianship without overloading students technically. Directors seeking a contest or festival piece that offers genuine compositional substance will find this appealing for programming at festival adjudications.

How to get the most out of it

  • Lock the fundamental pulse early in rehearsals. The 7/4 meter (built from 4+3) feels natural once students internalize that the grouping matters more than counting seven beats straight.
  • Balance the driving rhythmic figures between sections. The piece should feel propulsive, not exhausting, so clarify which lines carry the primary energy in each passage.
  • Shape the dynamic arcs sensitively across longer phrases. Developing players often play straight from dynamic marking to marking; help them hear how rise and fall within dynamic levels creates musical momentum.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece for a young band concert or festival performance where you want to showcase developing musicianship without stepping into advanced repertoire. The Holst and Revueltas connections work well in a thematic program exploring rhythm, culture, or 20th-century compositional voices.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading and performing in 7/4 meter with clear pulse subdivision
  • Balancing complex rhythmic figures across multiple parts
  • Shaping longer phrases with dynamic control
  • Responding to program and contextual information in music
  • Executing driving rhythmic passages with precision and musicality

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