AMERICAN PASTIME

Grade 2 ½ - 3
Arranged by Robert W. Smith
Percussion arranged by Eric Ward

commissioned by the St. James School, Montgomery, Alabama

Veteran composer and arranger Robert W. Smith takes us through a whole “9 Innings” of fun and entertainment for your band and audience.  Based on the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Take Me Out To The Ballgame”, AMERICAN PASTIME also features the beautiful composition “Field of Dreams” and the exciting “Seventh Inning Stretch”. Batter up!

FIREWORKS

Grade 2 ½ - 3
By David Shaffer
Percussion Arranged by Taylor Cash

Experienced composer and arranger David Shaffer paints an exciting portrait of the magic of Fireworks!   Opening with the exciting Fire Dance,  the percussion and winds create an percussive and forceful tribal dance.   The lyrical middle section, Fireflies features the optional use of instrumental solos and lush writing  for the pit percussion.  A forceful percussion feature  sets up the finale Fireworks, driving this program to a brilliant and exciting conclusion.   Percussion arranger Taylor Case has carefully crafted the percussion parts to reflect the accuracy of this grade level.   This is a halftime program that while technically simple, willbe exciting to perform and to hear.

CARMEN

Grade 3
By Steven Reineke
Percussion Arranged by Taylor Cash

commissioned by the Versailles High School Marching Band, Versailles, Ohio

Master composer and arranger Steven  Reineke  has crafted  an exceptional arrangement of Bizet’s immortal comic opera Carmen about a beautiful gypsy with a fiery temper set in Seville, Spain c. 1830.

Written in 5 movements, Reineke’s masterful arrangement captures the fiery essence of the Spanish influenced music. A solid grade level of 3 makes this production accessible to most ensembles.

MAGNETISM

Grade 3
By Andrew Markworth

Magnetism is a show that is ripe for visual imagery and effects. Some materials are attracted to a magnetic field and others are repulsed by it. The music focuses on contrast, variety and interaction of the various sections to create the magnetic music effects.

ANCIENT BATTLEFIELDS

Grade 3
By Jack Liles
Percussion Arranged by Taylor Cash

Jack Liles has transformed Benjamin Yeo’s Ancient Heroes into a dynamic four-movement showcase. The show explores the life of an ancient warrior who fought for land, for religion, and for freedom. Ancient Battlefields begins with narration over a percussive procession to battle followed by a driving opening theme. The final chord of the first movement segues into the ballad that introduces four different solo instruments and portrays the end of the first day of battle. The third movement is a brilliant percussion feature that includes a battle between winds and percussion. The final movement hints of an ancient Chinese battlefield utilizing an array of unique percussion sounds and concludes with the ancient warrior returning home victorious. The show was written with the drill writer in mind, providing optimal opportunities for creative drill design.

FATE OF THE GODS

Grade 3 ½ - 4
By Steven Reineke
Arranged by Justin Williams, Percussion Arranged by Taylor Cash

Popular composer Steven Reineke based this outstanding programmatic work on tales from Nordic mythology. Arrangers Justin Williams and Taylor Cash have transformed this concert work into a tour de force for your marching ensemble.  The show opens with the “Battle of Ragnarok,” which in Norse mythology refers to a prophesied war of the gods that is to bring about the destruction and the end of the world.  The beautifully haunting second movement, “Twilight of the Gods,” gives us calm and reflection before the final battle of creation ensues. Finally, “Chaos and Conquest,” features your percussion section in an incredible war between the forces of good and evil, bringing about the end of the cosmos. After the conquest, a new and idyllic world will arise and this new earth will be filled only with joy and abundance.

NIGHTFLIGHT: Scenes of a City from Above

Grade 3 ½ - 4
By James Swearingen
Arranged by Justin Williams
Percussion Arranged by Taylor Cash

While traveling by air, composer James Swearingen was able to view three distinctive scenes of Miami, Florida that are all musically portrayed in this new work. Longtime arrangers for the Jacksonville State University Marching Southerners Justin Williams and Taylor Cash, give NIGHTFLIGHT a high-energy treatment for your marching ensemble.   Driving tempos, memorable themes, Latin percussion, contemporary harmonies and a remarkable percussion feature all combine to create a memorable and exciting three movement show!

BEETHOVEN: Mastery and Madness

Grade 5
Arranged by Robert W. Smith and Patrick Roszell
Percussion Arranged by Taylor Cash

Explore the music and the mind of Ludwig van Beethoven!  Written for the 2006 edition of the Glassmen Drum Corps, the opener explores symphonies No. 7, No. 9, and No. 6.  Next is the beautiful “Moonlight Sonata “ of which Hector Berlioz wrote; "is one of those poems that human language does not know how to qualify”.  And finally, we close with the ever-triumphant “Ode to Joy” from Symphony #9.  Prost!

 

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