Winter Rhapsody: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Ralph Ford
Grade: 3 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0002207
$70.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
A component of the Warner Bros. Publications Commissioned Work Competition held at the MidWest Clinic in December 2001, this lush original ballad is reflective of the joy of the holiday season. Add this sentimental tune to your holiday program to reinforce musicianship. (3:42)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Winter Rhapsody: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Open in the Player
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Start Your Free Trial
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Belwin Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
190
SKU:
00-PK-0002207
More about this title
About the Composer: Ralph Ford
Ralph Ford brings three decades of university teaching alongside a prolific career as a composer and arranger for Belwin/Alfred Music. His portfolio spans orchestral, concert band, jazz ensemble, and marching band literature, with over 250 published titles performed by school, university, military, and professional ensembles internationally. Ford's musical work extends beyond the concert hall into media production, broadcast, and commercial scoring, where he has earned recognition for jingles, animation, and television work.
Ford's foundation in arranging began at age fifteen and deepened during his undergraduate years at Troy State University, where he directed the jazz ensemble and served as staff arranger for the band program. After earning his Master of Science degree in 1988, he joined the faculty as a full-time instructor, teaching orchestration, arranging, theory, and applied brass. His dual expertise in compositional craft and pedagogical mentorship informs his concert band writing, which balances accessibility with musical substance.
Why we love this
Ford's ballad captures the reflective warmth of the season without relying on obvious carol arrangements or saccharine harmonies. The Grade 3 scoring keeps parts accessible across your ensemble while maintaining the emotional weight and orchestral color that distinguish this as genuine compositional work rather than a holiday filler.
What to expect
Luminous and introspective. The ballad settles into a reflective emotional space, emphasizing sustained sonorities and gentle harmonic motion rather than dramatic gesture. There is an underlying contentment here; the piece conveys the quiet joy of the season without sentimentality.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the Grade 3 level seeking genuine musical substance in their holiday programming. Directors who want to move beyond simplified arrangements and offer students a chance to perform original composition that demands musicianship and attention to color.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the sustained melodic voices with complementary harmonic support; resist the temptation to inflate dynamic levels simply because the piece is romantic in character. Let the orchestration breathe.
- Use the full 3:42 runtime to establish a deliberate, unhurried tempo. Holiday programs often rush ballads; Ford's design rewards patience and allows the lush harmonies to register with your audience.
- Layer the part assignments carefully, particularly in the inner voices, so that the harmonic progression remains transparent rather than muddy, even when the full band is engaged.
How to use it
Position this early in your holiday concert to establish an intimate tone before moving into more energetic selections. At just under four minutes, it works as a thoughtful complement to both traditional carols and contemporary holiday fare, offering your audience a moment of ensemble artistry within a festive program.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining long melodic lines with consistent tone and intonation across changing harmonies
- Balancing foreground melody against background harmonic support
- Interpreting rubato and phrasing within a lyrical ballad context
- Reading and performing Grade 3 concert band scoring with independent part work