Who Are You Sheet Music Preview

Who Are You: Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts

By Peter Townshend / As performed by The Who / Arranged by Tim Waters

Grade: 3

Item: 35-PK00123432

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Description
Recorded by The Who in 1979 and now the theme of TV's "CSI," here is a signature rock anthem of the era by one of the hardest rockin' bands ever. Play it loud and proud!

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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
SKU: 35-PK00123432

More about this title

About the Composer: Peter Townshend

Peter Townshend stands as one of rock's most consequential songwriters and guitarists, best known as the primary composer and lead guitarist of The Who. His work defined the stadium rock sound of the 1960s and 70s, combining power chord riffs with introspective lyrics that addressed generational conflict and social change. For music educators, Townshend's legacy offers a crucial model of how rock composition can achieve both accessibility and artistic depth.

Why we love this

This arrangement captures everything that made The Who legendary: a driving, unrelenting rhythm section and a hook so memorable that audiences will instantly recognize it from the CSI opening. At Grade 3, it's ambitious enough to challenge your students without requiring virtuosic soloists, making it an ideal vehicle for building ensemble cohesion and confidence in contemporary repertoire.

What to expect

The music radiates pure kinetic energy from the first downbeat. It's insistent and powerful without being bombastic, letting the directness of the melody and the hypnotic pulse of the rhythm section do the work. Your students will feel the momentum building with every phrase.

Who it's for

This is perfect for high school marching bands ready to program contemporary rock that audiences genuinely know and love. It works equally well for directors seeking an engaging contest selection or a crowd-pleasing field show moment, and it gives students the rewarding experience of performing a legitimate cultural touchstone.

How to get the most out of it

  • Establish the signature riff as the backbone of your section balance. This iconic guitar motif needs to cut through clearly, so dial in the woodwind and brass volume ratios in rehearsal before layering drums.
  • Keep the tempo rock-solid and slightly on the front of the beat. This era's rock aesthetic favors a propulsive feel rather than the traditional rebound pattern, so guide your drum line accordingly during early rehearsals.
  • Shape the volume arch across the full arrangement. The track builds momentum progressively, so differentiate your dynamics section by section rather than treating it as one sustained fortissimo.
  • Pay attention to articulation consistency across like voices. Rock writing often relies on tight, matched tonguing and note releases to create the punchy character that defines the style.

How to use it

Schedule this as a closer or as a strategic midsection piece in a field show where you need to shift audience energy. The instant recognizability makes it ideal for programs featuring both classical and contemporary music, and it demonstrates to your community that marching arts embrace modern repertoire with genuine musicianship.

Skills your students will build

  • Executing driving rock rhythms with precision and pocket
  • Balancing melody and accompaniment in contemporary ensemble textures
  • Matching articulation and tone color across a section
  • Reading and performing from parts that emphasize rhythmic coordination over traditional melodic hierarchy

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