Westwood Trail: Bassoon
Westwood Trail: Bassoon Sheet Music Preview

Westwood Trail: Bassoon

Concert March

By Douglas E. Wagner

Grade: 2 (Easy)

Item: 00-PC-0015190_B1
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Description
Your audience will experience the Old West and all the imagery that follows when they hear WESTWOOD TRAIL. With sonorities that are indeed fresh and melodic lines that move beautifully (with an occasional 'twist'), this distinctive new concert march moves boldly onto the scene. Bands and marches are made for each other, and this terrific piece jumps to the top of the list! (2:10)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Westwood Trail: Bassoon 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: Belwin Young Band
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 232
SKU: 00-PC-0015190_B1

More about this title

About the Composer: Douglas E. Wagner

Douglas E. Wagner

Douglas E. Wagner grew up in Chicago and studied music at Butler University, earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees. After three decades as a high school music director and administrator, he transitioned to full-time composition, a decision that has made him one of the most prolific living composers in American music education.

Since 1973, Wagner has published over 3,500 works spanning concert band, choir, orchestra, handbell ensemble, organ, piano, and voice. His music circulates globally, with more than seventeen million copies purchased and performances broadcast on radio and television across the United States and internationally. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife, Sandy.

Why we love this

Wagner writes marches that actually sound modern without abandoning the form's essential character. The Old West imagery here gives your band something concrete to connect to, and the melodic material is strong enough that it works equally well in a fall concert or as part of a march clinic. This is the kind of piece that sounds mature and confident in performance without demanding virtuosic execution.

What to expect

Westwood Trail evokes open landscapes and forward momentum. The sonorities feel spacious and modern, while the melodic phrasing has character and warmth, occasionally shifting in unexpected directions that keep the listener engaged.

Who it's for

Grade 2 ensembles that are ready to move beyond basic fundamentals but still benefit from accessible scoring. This works equally well for developing high school bands, strong middle school programs, or bands looking for a concert march that doesn't require years of specialized march repertoire experience.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the melodic lines across your sections; the 'beautiful' movement Wagner describes depends on clarity, not volume. Younger bands often cover the melody by playing too loud in supporting parts.
  • Shape the occasional 'twist' with slight rubato rather than stopping the forward motion. These moments should surprise, not derail.
  • Let the march character drive the tempo. Resist the urge to pull back for softer passages; the piece thrives on steady momentum.
  • Emphasize the distinctive harmonic choices that set this apart from standard march progressions. They're what give it freshness.

How to use it

Place this early in a concert to establish energy and mood. It also works beautifully as a closer if you want to send the audience out with confidence and movement. The Old West imagery makes it a natural fit for spring concert themes or for pairing with other Americana-inspired repertoire.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustaining forward momentum in march style
  • Balance and blend between melody and accompaniment
  • Responding to melodic phrasing with shape and direction
  • Navigating harmonic progressions beyond standard tonal patterns
  • Ensemble precision at accessible difficulty levels

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