Wide open spaces . . .
WESTERN ROUND-UP
Concert selection by Brian Harris

Reminiscent of those wonderful soundtracks from great Old West movies such as "The Magnificent Seven" and "The Cowboys," Western Round-Up conveys the excitement, adventure, and celebration of the wide-open country of the West. Limited ranges, a recurring theme, colorful percussion parts, and simple rhythmic syncopations make this piece exceptionally playable, even by young bands!
LEVEL:
 Medium Easy; Grade 2 

Appropriate for 2nd/3rd-year players and beyond.
SAMPLES:
 Sample pages (.gif): 
Sound files:
  • Excerpt 1 - Intro and Theme (RealAudio 84k)
  • Excerpt 2 - "B" section; part of the "hoedown" (RealAudio 41k)
  • Hear the ENTIRE WORK - (MP3 format, 1MB)


    • Special thanks to the 2001 CenTex Symphonic Honor Band for premiering this piece!

    (About these sound files)

Printable Score Sample: 
COST:
 $30 U.S. (plus shipping) for full score, master parts, and site-license. 

Extra full scores are $6 U.S. (plus shipping).
PROGRAMMING:
  • Spring or Fall concert.
  • Performance Time: about 2:30
    		•
    FEATURES:
  • All winds have melody at least once (low woodwinds, horns, and tubas have limited melodic doubling)
  • restricted Trumpet 1 range (see RANGES, below)
  • restricted Tuba range (see RANGES, below)
  • active Percussion parts (see PERCUSSION, below)
  • several short (1 or 2 measure) solos and soli sections, with generous cross-cueing
    		•
    CHALLENGES:
  • Requires correct articulation style to convey excitement (accents, etc.)
  • Clarinet 2 plays over break (in 10 measures) and up to G (top of staff)
  • Doubling the tuba line, the Bass Clarinet plays mostly in lowest register (numerous F's)
  • Doubling the tuba line, the Bari Sax plays mostly in lowest register  (numerous C's)
  • key changes
    		•
    KEY and RANGES:
    		 Mostly E-flat major; direct modulation to F major at end. The first statement of the B Theme (8 measures) is a soli section played only by flutes and alto saxes - this is in A-flat major, but since it has no occurrence of the added flat, it is an "invisible" key change. The key then returns to E-flat major until the final modulation to F major (many courtesy accidentals have been included in the parts to assist students - and keep band directors sane!).

    Form: A-A-B-B-A-A

    All parts are within "2nd-year" ranges: Flute to F above staff; 1st Clarinet to A above staff; 2nd Clarinet to G on top of staff; Trumpet 1 to 4th space E (once); Trumpet 2 to 4th line D; Trombones to D above staff (3 times); Tuba to D on staff (once), down to E-flat just below staff.
    INSTRUMENTATION:
    		 Standard Instrumentation

    (Trombone part is unison, except for 7 divsi measures)
    MINIMUM
    INSTRUMENTATION
    REQUIREMENTS:
    		 2 Flutes, 2 Clarinets, 1 Alto Sax, 1 Trumpet, 2 Trombones/Euphoniums (or 1 Trombone and Tenor Sax), Bass Line (Bassoon, Bass Clarinet, Bari Sax, Tuba), Percussion.
    PERCUSSION:
    		 Parts for 7 percussionists: 
      Percussion 1 = min. 2 players (Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Triangle)

      Percussion 2 = min. 2 players (Susp. Cymbal, Shaker, Crash Cymbals, Wood Block, Tambourine)

      Timpani (and Whip/Slapstick) = min. 1 player (3 drums - one pitch change) 

      Mallets = min. 2 players (bells, xylophone) 
    All concert band arrangements purchased directly from Bandroom.com Publications
    come with a site-specific license authorizing the duplication of parts for use by the license holder.

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