Using the style of Canadian folk songs from the East Coast and the story telling features of Newfoundland, A Fisherman s Tale is a piece about a trip out into the ocean. The piece opens with the s...

A Holiday Festival is a multi-cultural holiday piece including songs representing Christmas, Ramadan, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. The piece opens with a bold entrance of Deck the Halls before moving in...

Donald Coakley has created a colourful and harmonically interesting arrangement of the French-Canadian folksong A la Claire Fontaine. Melodic material is found throughout the ensemble and none of t...

A New Day is a celebratory piece where the melodies, feel, and harmonies are bright and uplifting. Sweeping, grand themes are supported by light articulated passages. Various members of the band ar...

Lewis T. Hartsough wrote I Hear Thy Welcome Voice in 1872 at a revival meeting in Epworth, Iowa. This lyrical setting for band explores the rich sonority available to the young concert band. The...

This piece contains two distinctively different themes - a traditional European folk song sounding melody and a Japanese inspired one. Each melody is introduced on its own, then they are combined -...

In certain African countries it is common for people to gather together to celebrate. Many will bring their percussion instruments and a spontaneous outpouring of sounds and emotions will help heal...

The piece is written in classic overture style. Bold allegro and flowing andante are combined to make this piece an introduction to the classical style for young musicians.

This is a very clever arrangement that combines The Last Post and the hymn tune Amazing Grace. The band parts are very reasonable for young players but the solo trumpet part should be played by a m...

And All Was Well is a lyrical piece which features many sections of the ensemble, including a trumpet solo introducing the main theme. This composition provides a great opportunity for musicians t...

Another Mission: Secret is a sequel to the popular Mission: Secret.  Much like the original, it is a classic spy tune that is written using a 12-bar blues form.  It’s made up of a catchy bass l...

Anubis - Egyptian God of the Dead is a tone picture for young level band describing a scene the composer saw in the movie Return of the Mummy where Anubis army of the dead is relentlessly pursuing...

This lyrical piece is composed using ternary (ABA) form and gives every section an opportunity to shine. Filled with rich use of harmony and a flowing melody, As the River Flows is a great way to...

This lyrical piece is a modern lullaby. It begins with a peaceful feeling and slowly builds into a beautiful, chorale-like section, reflecting the wonderful dreams we have as we fall into our deepe...

This tune is one of the favourite and most often recorded folksongs of the British Isles. The arranger has given the beautiful flowing melody to the flutes with the clarinets and alto saxophones pr...

Blessed is a beautiful lyrical piece that uses a chorale style accompaniment to allow the focus to be solely on the melody.  Written in ABA form, the song’s simple stylistic features allow the e...

Break Out is conceived in a Boogie Woogie style. This fun piece provides the opportunity to have young bands and . There are short feature solos for trumpet, alto sax and clarinet. This short piece...

The Royal Fortune was the name Bartholomew Roberts, otherwise know as Black Bart, gave to all the flagships of his fleet. He was considered to be the most successful plunderer of the Carribean. Th...

Adventures come in many forms - whether it be a Greek, Persian or Indian, etc. hero heading off on a mission or a sailor embarking on a dangerous trip across uncharted waters, the call to adventure...

This piece by Jeff Smallman shows off his ability to write interesting and musical parts for young musicians. Your students will come into band class asking to play Coming Home every day. The drivi...

The Conqueror is mainly a piece that carries a brave tone through its entirety. Although some sections of the piece have a slower feel to them, the music requires a consistent flow and heaviness f...

The Conquest is the perfect musical depiction of one going on a successful adventure, all complete with a suspenseful opening, a bold, motivic melody, a tragic, sorrowful chorale, a calming lyrical...

The history of the court jester is quite diverse depending on the country. They were either employed to entertain nobility or as an itinerant performer they would entertain common folk at such venu...

Danzas Tribales (Tribal Dances) is a three movement work that musically depicts several scenes of tribal life. Movement 1 - La Caza (The Hunt) portrays the searching for food. Movement 2 - Las Be...

Picture a circus, with creepy clowns, an evil ringmaster and fierce animals, and you get Dark Shadows: a fun, yet twisted piece filled with interesting melodies and animated accompaniments. The op...

Early One Morning is a beautiful lyrical folksong that could be used as a band warmup or a contrasting piece on a concert program on at a festival. It starts quietly, off in the distance, then the...

El Camino (The Road) is a Spanish march composed in the traditional style of a pasodoble. This piece is fast paced and energetic from start to finish and sounds more complicated than it seems! Thi...

An emissary is a messenger that is usually a representative of a higher ranking official and is sent in advance of that officials arrival to make sure that all arrangements prior to his arrival ar...

The Enchantress March was inspired by this silly little poem from an anonymous author:

The Enchantress conjures many spells,
approach her if you dare.
Potions, powders...

A thrilling musical adventure of a suspenseful and dangerous escape from an erupting sun. After an ominous mighty opening in G minor, the mood shifts dramatically to expanding contrapuntal melodies...

There are many different myths about how the sword Excalibur came into King Arthur s possession and all lead to him being recognized as the true ruler of England. In one myth, Arthur draws the swor...

The legend of the great city of Troy varies depending on historical or fictional belief. This city was the location of the long lasting Trojan Wars, between the people of Troy and the Greeks. The f...

Fantastic Overture is a musical depiction of a knight's battle, against an evil force, for the love of a woman. All instruments get colourful and interesting parts with the percussion helping to ma...

For the glory of my country describes the passion and loyalty to one s nation when a women or man joins the military. This piece is composed to reflect many feelings and emotions as a soldier goes...

Gods of Egypt is a piece composed with the flare of music of the Middle East. A strong opening using a traditional Middle Eastern scale and counter melody immediately create the feel for this piece...

An amulet is defined as a small object worn to ward off evil, harm or illness. It is also thought to bring good fortune or good luck much like a rabbit s foot or four leaf clover. The music then pr...

Gullywumps are mythical little creatures about 2 feet tall that like to dress in purple and orange. Not particularly coordinated, they still love to dance. Here in a suite of 3 dances (Promenade,...

This popular piano solo has now been adapted for the concert band. It is a character piece depicting the mysterious nature of gypsies on their travels. The mysteriousness of the work makes it an ex...

This version of the famous Hail the Conquering Hero opens with a solo trumpet, gradually adds voices and builds in dynamic, then the sound drops to a solo tuba (which is also cued in other voices)...

This is a fun, traditional Hanukkah song arranged in a jump swing style. From beginning to end, the chart is full of high energy, and incorporates hints of classic swing tunes. Although there is a...

There have been many mythical heroes in famous literature. From the heroes in ancient Roman and Greek myths to the heroes of Japan, native America and India, they come in all shapes and sizes. Thei...

Home on the Range is a classic cowboy song. It has gone by a number of names, the most common being Home on the Range and Western Home. It was officially adopted as the state song of Kansas in 1947...

This is a peaceful arrangement of a Canadian folk song that was adapted from a Traditional English riddle song by Nova Scotians. It is hauntingly beautiful and offers the opportunity for some lovel...

In Dreams is a musical representation of exactly what our dreams are like: peaceful, calming, horrific, and unpredictable; yet, there is always something to remember about them when we wake up. Th...

Innovation is a musical representation of the city of Burlington, Canada moving into the future as an innovative community. As it continues to grow and develop, the city demonstrates its ingenuity...

Set in a rollicking 6/8, this is a great piece to work on triple metre, changing articulations, dynamic contrast and many other elements. Very playable by a young band, the musical elements and tea...

Jubilant Sky Fantasy is a fun, upbeat piece meant to bring joy and liveliness to both the performer and listener. The entire band gets a turn to shine with melody in flutes, altos, clarinets and t...

The Knave of Hearts is a charming little piece of mischief in the style of an easy overture for young band. Technical demands are few and the pitch range is narrow. Clarinet parts do not go ov...

La Forza Scura is a follow-up to an overture I wrote a number of years ago entitled Black Tower Overture. Those familiar with that work will at once notice the similarities. La Forza Scura howeve...

The origin of this haunting folk song is not known. It was very popular in the northern lake country of Ontario, Canada. It was a well known song in the summer camps of the region, because of its e...

Landfall is a term that is often used to describe the situation where a severe storm that develops over water, first reaches land. This piece reflects the events of disasters such as these in sever...

The last line of defense is a term that refers to the final means of defense before the opponent reaches its goal, particularly in a war situation. This piece reflects that definition, as it has th...

Queen Anne's Revenge was the final ship sailed by Edward Thatch, also known as the pirate, Blackbeard. Recently, there have been some archaeological expeditions to find the remains of the sunken s...

Legacy is a song of heroic nature and is a great way to introduce polyrhythmic texture to a young band. This piece opens with a high energy feel that can represent a hero. The piece moves into a l...

Loki is said to be the step-brother of Thor and a constant source of irritation to all with whom he comes in contact. The music therefore depicts his playful yet devious nature. In this work the co...

This is a reflective piece suggesting a long slow walk in the forest surrounded by the soft sounds of nature. The Lone Pine works well as a contrasting piece on a concert or contest. Since the part...

Maiden Voyage is a song about celebration. Although the term maiden voyage refers to a boat s first adventure, it can represent any first successful event. Colorful percussion, great rhythmic inte...

This Latin style dance has a taste of American jazz and Afro-Cuban music. Popular in the 1940s and 1950s, the mambo is once again all the rage. With spicy rhythms, a dash of syncopation and a large...

This incredibly famous melody will quickly become a favourite with beginning musicians. This would make an excellent first piece after working through a method book. The clarinets are below the bre...

Prepare for battle! Mars, the Roman god of war, is one of the most significant characters in Roman mythology. Not only is he a warrior, but he is the father of the Roman people. The many statues fo...

Men of Harlech is a folksong from Wales. It is a stirring and bold march that shows off every section in the band. There are percussion interjections, trumpet fanfares and large dynamic changes. Th...

Mission: Secret is a classic spy tune written using a 12-bar blues form. It is mostly made up of a catchy bass line riff with a simple, sustained melody over top. Super Spy!

This creature is not very coordinated as is evident in the troll dance sequence which begins in the middle of this fun piece. Imagine the hilarity that must ensue as the troll attempts to keep time...

Buried deep in the TIHEK valley for almost a thousand years were the runes of an ancient people known as the RAAK. These runes were of mythological importance as they showed in great detail much o...

A Mystical Way is a slow reflective work, with no particular programmatic content. It's designed to give young players an opportunity for sustained playing and tonal development.

The Nautilus is a fictional submarine found in Jules Verne s novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. The sub, and its crew, sail to many places in the world s oceans from the Antarctic ice she...

Nightfall in Camp is a very clever arrangement that combines The Last Post, and the hymn tune Unto the Hills. The band parts are very reasonable for young players but the solo part should be played...

In August 480 BC, the Battle of Thermopylae, a small mountain pass in central Greece, was fought between an alliance of Greek city-states and the invading Persian Empire of Xerxes I. Vastly outnu...

The Odyssey is an ancient Greek epic poem wrtten by the poet Homer. The poem is dated around 600 BC and tells of the events that befall the Greek hero Odysseus in his long journeys after the fall o...

The Odyssey is an ancient Greek epic poem and tells of the events that befall the Greek hero Odysseus on his long journey after the fall of Troy. This feeling of adventure and mystery has been capt...

Hoist the sails and get ready to take your young band On the Open Sea. A tuneful melody with care given to foster strong ensemble playing. There are a lot of teachable band moments in this piece an...

The Perilous Seat was a chair intentionally left vacant at King Arthur s round table. It was reserved for the bravest knight who was willing to take on the quest for the Holy Grail. If someone sat...

Conjuring images of a spectral army marching towards an otherworldly battle being fought in our imaginations, the Phantom Brigade keeps time in strict rhythm as they march undaunted towards the unk...

The Praetorian Guard was an elite group of soldiers or bodyguards used by the Roman Emperors. This march is a musical depiction of the spectacle that would be viewed as a procession of these soldie...

An interesting element of this work is that the two main themes were originally composed by the young students on recorders. The piece was built around those themes and the result is a colorful and...

Pride and Valour is composed using a traditional march form, but incorporates the excitement of a bold, concert or festival work. Great melodies and countermelodies make this a strong work for deve...

Adorned in her royal garments, the Priestess of Fire makes her way through the streets of the city on her way to the temple where she is to offer sacrifice to the great spirits. Along the route ar...

Rapa Nui lets you dive into the mysteries of the remote Easter Island. Discover from up close the world famous megalithic statues and embark on a challenging race to become the next Bird-Man. This...

Reesor Park is an energetic overture full of rhythmic drive and interest for all players. A majestic opening quickly turns into a driving energetic section with shifting rhythms and colourful percu...

Regal Salute is a stately march in a processional style. Strong melodic material supported with a steady rhythmic feel propel this work. This piece would make a great first march for a young band.

Resurgence of Sound was composed to celebrate the perseverance of instrumental music education during the COVID-19 pandemic. This piece provides ample opportunity to work on several musical element...

Reverie is a lyrical piece reflecting someone in a dream-like state. It is a peaceful song using repetitive melodic figures, lush harmonies and simple rhythms. The alto saxophone gets a brief solo...

A karesansui is a Japanese rock garden which is an enclosed shallow sandbox containing sand, gravel, rocks, and occasionally grass or other natural elements. The main elements of karesansui are roc...

Ancient civilizations represent many things about life as we know it today: power, beauty, intelligence, and ambition. This piece reflects all of these qualities, from the driving force of the anc...

Written at the young band level, Ritual Dance (Danse Rituale) musically portrays the preliminary dance surrounding a fictional rite of passage ceremony. The initial announcement of dignitaries i...

This Rondeau by Jean Joseph Mouret is recognized today as the opening theme song to Masterpiece Theatre. This famous trumpet solo features the first trumpet section in the band. Alternating section...

Imagine yourself embarking on a thrilling expedition to the city of Saqqara. As you make new and astonishing finds, you are absorbed back to the life of ancient times. Great themes, strong percussi...

The Sea Dragon is a tone picture in miniature. This piece depicts the ferocity of the Sea Dragon in his natural habitat with stormy and turbulent musical lines. Occasionally there is a moment of...

Shaped by Time is a short fanfare/overture to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Coledale Public School in Unionville, Canada. It opens with a brief fanfare section before breaking into a fun, shift...

Songs For The Morning Band is a work in three movements for bands at the grade one and a half level. The first movement is entitled The Answered Question (with a nod to Mr. Ives). This movement...

This famous melody has been attributed to Haydn but there is doubt whether he was the composer. The music is simple and stately with the melody moving between several sections of the band.

Star Trails is an original overture designed for first and second year players to experience playing in a full ensemble setting, with a variety of styles and articulations to focus and challenge yo...

Storm Chaser is an exciting and energetic piece for young band which combines dynamic and driving rhythms and a variety of percussion colors. Storm chasers are brave men and women that persue torna...

Suite For A Band Of Players is set in three movements, with the middle movement an arrangement of a well known Quebec folksong. The first movement, Latino, represents a synethesis of several Latin-...

This arrangement introduces students to one of the most famous sets of music ever written. This provides the opportunity to briefly discuss Handel, the Baroque era or other musical aspects that wil...

This piece is a lively action packed adventure compressed into a standard march form filled with sword play and spirited exploits. Fun to play and listen to.

The Sword of the Valiant portrays the triumphant return of the gallant knight who with his sword led the charge that defeated the invaders that thought to have his land. The battle was won and the...

A talisman is defined as a stone, ring, or other object, engraved with figures or characters supposed to possess occult powers and worn as an amulet or charm. The Talisman is a medium easy march d...

Inventions have changed our lives. Whether it be the wheel, electricity, car, telephone or the microchip, inventions have allowed us to live better, and sometimes longer, lives.

This piece is abo...

This rousing and patriotic song was written in 1867, the year of Canada s Confederation. It became very popular and, for many years, was the unofficial national anthem of Canada. The piece opens wi...

The Heather is one of the national flowers of Scotland. This purple flower flourishes in the damp, rainy weather of Scottish moorland, glens and hills. The piece opens with the instruments imitatin...

This favourite childrens song has been cleverly arranged for band in some different musical styles. The melody is first in the trumpets, moves to a waltz section then finally a Calypso feel. This i...

Through the Eye of the Storm is a piece full of suspense and intensity, describing the fury of a storm. It begins with strong dynamics, articulation and introduces the rhythmic drive that is carrie...

This incredibly famous Trumpet Voluntary (often attributed to Henry Purcell) is one of the most often requested wedding pieces of all times. This arrangement features a trumpet duo (or optional sol...

Inspired by two folk songs from the arranger s Dutch heritage, Two Holland Tales is a piece that combines both lyrical and upbeat sections. Daar waren twee koningskinderen (There Were Two Royal Ch...

The Uprising is a bold and daring work portraying a group challenging the people in power. This has been staged in 6 programatic sections: The Current Regime is noble and confident in character - p...

Utopia is a musical reflection of the bustling life of a big city. It opens using fanfare-like chords, to represent the perfection of this wonderful place. Melody is found in many sections of the b...

There is no place on earth more mysterious than the Great Pyramids in Egypt. The Valley of the Kings was the location of more than 60 tombs constructed for kings and nobles. In modern times the val...

There are likely many examples of a person s beliefs or actions that, at first, may have been questioned, but over time have been proven to be right or justified thereby providing vindication. Thi...

A warlock is a male who practices witchcraft. This little tonal caricature seeks to musically portray this enigmatic character in a somewhat less than frightening way. The tri-tone and its usage in...

Western Fair is an energetic, uplifting piece that can be fun for both players to perform and listeners to hear. It is composed using two main melodies that are performed in many forms, combined in...

Wings of Fortitude is a concert march that reflects that definition: courageous, brave, and having tenacity. A powerful trumpet melody is contrasted with a smoother theme in the woodwinds. The trio...

Pure fun. This original composition is sure to become a favourite with bands everywhere. The range of all parts is limited but the excitement generated through the rhythms is not! This piece is des...

This original piece is composed as a light, pop tune for concert band. You Must Know combines elements of Latin music and rock music. Melody is found in most sections of the band offering fun for...