With Gratitude: Score
By Evan VanDoren
Grade: 2
Item: 98-PR-RWS2525
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Description
Share a heartfelt musical "thank you" with this gorgeous lyrical piece! With Gratitude by Evan VanDoren provides substantive opportunities for expression while remaining approachable for younger ensembles. An intimate introduction gives way to soaring melodies, colorful harmonies, and lush textures, exploring an impressive emotional range that will surely leave your audience deeply moved.(1:50)
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
RWS - Developing Band
Publisher:
RWS Music Company
SKU:
98-PR-RWS2525
More about this title
About the Composer: Evan VanDoren
Evan VanDoren has built a reputation for writing band music that balances musical substance with genuine accessibility. His ear for orchestration and gift for lyrical writing make his scores both conductor-friendly and genuinely moving for audiences.
VanDoren understands what developing ensembles need: pieces that challenge musicians without overwhelming them, and that sound far more sophisticated than their technical demands suggest. His work appears regularly on contest and festival programs across the country.
Why we love this
VanDoren understands what young ensembles need: music that sounds mature and moving without demanding virtuosic technical demands. The emotional arc here unfolds naturally, giving students something genuinely expressive to sink into rather than just executing. Conductors consistently choose this piece because it proves that Grade 2 repertoire can carry real substance.
What to expect
An intimate conversation that opens into something luminous. The piece begins softly, almost tentatively, before unfolding into soaring melodies and rich harmonies that feel expansive without ever losing their sincerity. It's the sound of gratitude finding its voice.
Who it's for
This piece belongs in the library of any director working with developing concert bands. Grade 2 ensembles have the maturity to express genuine emotion here, and the approachable scoring means less time troubleshooting notes and more time refining musicality.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the introduction with patience. Resist rushing the intimate opening; let the quiet moments breathe so the transition to the soaring section lands with impact.
- Anchor the melodic lines with your lower voices. The colorful harmonies depend on well-balanced support from clarinets and saxophones to achieve the lush texture VanDoren intended.
- Balance lyrical passages by encouraging singers of the melody to voice with warmth rather than volume. A well-supported pianissimo often moves an audience more than a forced forte.
- Mark phrase endings clearly in rehearsal. Young players often need visual reminders about where musical thoughts conclude so the overall arc stays coherent.
How to use it
Use this as a concert centerpiece or a closing selection where emotional resonance matters more than spectacle. It pairs well alongside lighter selections earlier in a program, allowing the audience to settle into reflection. Festival adjudicators consistently respond well to pieces where young musicians genuinely connect with the material.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining lyrical lines with consistent tone quality
- Responding to subtle dynamic and expressive shape
- Balancing melody and accompaniment in four-part voicing
- Shaping longer phrases across multiple measures
- Interpreting musical intention beyond the printed note