Title: Requiem for Inactive Verbs
Style: Funeral March
Composer: Russ Weaver - Arranger: Russ Weaver - Grade: 2 - Instrumentation: Standard Concert Band
If your school would like to improve its writing scores, then this is the piece for you! Teach your students this famous lyric by noted author Jane Kiester (www.maupinhouse.com/kiester.php) and watch the results. Of course you can also have Mrs. Kiester come do a workshop for your teachers, and she will recommend that you add this piece to your standard concert band repertoire because it works. Plan a funeral for these verbs, and each of the verbs can process through to this tune. This piece is fun and appropriate curricular use of utilitarian music through the language arts department.
Title: A Tom Sawyer Tone Poem
Style: Varied
Composer: Chris Sharp - Arranger: Chris Sharp - Grade: 3 - Instrumentation: Standard Concert Band
Life on the Mississippi is reflected in this one-movement work seperated into thematic sections representing episodes in the life of young Tom Sawyer and his friends. This is the perfect time to do pieces with American literature tie-ins. Encourage your language arts department to explore this literature in the same semester that you perform this piece for an increased aesthetic experience for your learners. Sunshine State Standards friendly, this piece is an easy grade 3.
Title: The Warriors
Style: Concert March
Composer: Chris Sharp - Arranger: Chris Sharp - Grade: 3 - Instrumentation: Standard Concert Band
"The Warriors" is a traditional concert march suitable for ceremonies and processionals. It is particularly effective as a Graduation Recessional. It also works well as an opening march on a festival program for high school and advanced middle school bands. This is the top seller for concert band literature. No music library is complete without a visit from the Warriors!
Title: Lament
Style: Ballad
Composer: Chris Sharp - Arranger: Chris Sharp - Grade: 3.5 - Instrumentation: Standard Concert Band
This original work was written to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It was performed by the Buchholz High School wind ensemble under the direction of Ms. Paula Thornton at the 2002 Midwest Clinic. It is a grade 3 composition intended to be accessible to high school and advanced middle school ensembles.
Title: Sunshine State Suite
Style: Varied
Composer: Chris Sharp - Arranger: Chris Sharp - Grade: 4 - Instrumentation: Standard Concert Band
This piece a suite in four movements celebrating the diversity of Florida. The movements are entitled: 1. Beach Frolic, 2. The 'Glades, 3. Tourist Trap, and 4. The Space Coast. The thematic material is very musically descriptive and enjoyable. This piece is easily accessible by most high school-level bands.
Title: Three Selections From Mozart
Style: Varied
Composer: W.A. Mozart - Arranger: Chris Sharp - Grade: 4.5 - Instrumentation: Standard Concert Band
Three selections from Mozart's monumental Requiem Mass are made available for concert band in this challenging setting. The rhythmic, driving "Confutatis" is followed by the famous "Tuba Mirum", showcasing solo trombone and other instruments. The suite concludes with the powerful, contrapuntal "Kyrie". A faithful transcription that is accessible by HS aged musicians. Each movement is playable as a stand-alone transcription or enjoy the entire 3 movement arrangement. Sound files from the last 2 movements are available upon request. Cultural tie-ins would be the multiple academy award winning movie Amadeus.