Grade 3 and Up Concert Band Compositions

A Land Remembered is based on the novel of the same name by Patrick D. Smith, which tells the story of pioneering families in the early days of Florida. The piece is set in three continuous movements, each depicting elements of the story, from the open fanfare, "A New Life in a New Land" to the beautiful "On the Prairie" and the strident final movement, "Hardships on the Rugged Frontier." This piece will demonstrate the skill and musicality of your concert-level band.

Inspired by the mutual respect and devotion that can arise between a good band director and student players, Larry Clark has crafted a typically energetic and exciting overture-style piece for band. Full of great scoring, including some nicely challenging timpani writing, and several memorable melodies, this is a great showcase for the capabilities of a high school or good middle school band.

With noble proportion, this vivid new concert/contest work from the pen of Larry Clark dramatically enters the concert band arena. A fascinating musical aspect is to see how effectively the melodic material is introduced and develops throughout. Lyrical sections contrast strikingly with the very forceful themes that frame the composition. The driving climax brings balance and completeness. A work on the truly grand scale. (5:24)

Art is Life! This sentiment is abundant in this wonderful new work for concert band by Larry Clark. Full of flourish and thick brass writing harkening back to the days of Alfred Reed, Ars Vitae has everything you could want in a contest and festival work.

It is all too common for pieces to be written for the loss of members of high school bands. This is such a piece, but it is uplifting and inspiring, serving as a touching tribute to the lives lost. The piece takes the listener on a journey through the stages of grief and uses a popular hymn as the basis for this serious work by popular composer Larry Clark.

The popular Irish Hymn tune, Slane (best known by the familiar first line of its standard text, Be Thou My Vision) is a great favorite of composer Larry Clark’s. It is the basis for this grand set of variations. From the bardic fanfare of the opening, through a piccolo solo that suggests Gaelic piping and several variations on the lovely tune, this is a beautifully scored piece, rich in the flavor of the Emerald Isle.

This piece is built on original melodies that capture the essences of Celtic folk songs. This ballad is lush, richly scored and contains beautiful countermelodies. The expressive playing in this piece will provide contrast to the uptempo selections during a concert or festival performance.

The inspiration for this piece comes from one of Henry David Thoreau's most famous quotes - "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined." It was Thoreau's vision that we contemplate a simpler life and be deep thinkers about what we want our lives to be. The piece is divided into three distinct sections based on the same three-note motive. The first section is intense and bold, the second is introspective and lyrical and the third is dance-like, almost reminiscent of a Celtic folk song, in lilting in 6/8. This perfect contest or festival selection will highlight your band's strengths.

Sparkling woodwind flourishes, bold brass fanfares, and exciting melodies highlight this incredible new concert overture from popular composer Larry Clark. The lyrical middle section contains a beautiful heart-tugging theme that is book-ended by bold and aggressive music from the energetic first section. Destined to become a staple on contest/festival lists.

A throwback to the old circus marches, Flying High is a tour de force from start to finish! This traditional Fillmore-like march has everything you need to teach technique and style. Perfect for any concert program or festival adjudication, Flying High is a winning selection!

Forever Climbing was written as tribute to the loss of a high school band student that was tragically killed in a rock climbing accident. It is not intended as a sad piece, but as a celebration of the life of this exceptional young man. At times the piece is contemplative, but also contains a joy that is to depict the way he lived. As the piece builds to its conclusion, the listener will have a sense of fulfillment in a life well lived, even though it was cut short. A moving new addition to the band repertoire.

Larry Clark’s natural instinct is to provide great concert band music, and once again, trusting his gut feeling has resulted in another winner. Instinct blazes out of the starting gate with an aggressive 6/8 theme, which is then manipulated and developed over the course of this great concert opener or closer. We’re willing to bet that your audience will be out of their seats by the end.

This piece drives from the start with bold trumpet flourishes and interjections from the rest of the band. After the exciting first section, a lyrical second theme departs to something beautiful and lush in harmonic structure. The development section is based on the opening theme, eventually leading the piece back, followed by a dynamic brass flourish in the coda. A solid choice by a known composer for contests and festivals.

This programmatic work, based on the ancient and legendary warrior Lorelei, is a great new work for contest & festival performance. Scored with reduced instrumentation with only 2 Bb Clarinet & Trumpet lines and limited Saxophone, Horn in F and Low Brass – this exciting new work for band will work great for smaller bands and still sound big and full with larger ones.

This is a rip roaring march right from the start. Composer Larry Clark marks the tempo "Fast and fun." This original march was written to honor an exemplary band director with over 62 years teaching. It is a work that emulates the great marches of Henry Fillmore. This will be a fun and solid march for festival performances.

“Northstar Fanfare” is a bold and uplifting composition that opens any concert with a burst of energy. Its engaging colorful harmonies and sweeping theme will captivate audiences from the first note to the last. Let your spirit soar as you journey through the music, inspired by the guiding light of Polaris, the north star.

This piece is epic, fresh, and cool. Your students will be asking to play this on loop! Great part-writing gives each section something to work towards. Oblivion is going to fit on any concert program!

Here is a sparkling fanfare that is the perfect way to begin any concert! The majestic brass and the interplay between the woodwinds throughout the piece are bright and colorful. The trumpet and timpani solos add the right touch to this opener.

A bold and Dynamic new overture from composer Larry Clark. This is a tour de force for your budding horn section, including a heartfelt slow section that is simply outstanding. Alert your contest list committee, this piece is destined to become a standard.

Tartan Tapestries is an original piece that sets out to emulate Scottish folk music. Composer Larry Clark has created a concert overture in triple meter to capture the essence of music from Scotland. After a lilting first section,  lush and beautiful moments weave a tapestry of sounds with the lyrical, middle section of the piece. There is an optional part for bagpipes, and an optional ending should you chose to use this instrument as part of the piece. Alert your contest music committee about this strong new piece for advancing groups.

Musical twists and turns abound in this compositional departure for composer Larry Clark. It contains all of his impeccable scoring and attention to detail, but is a refreshing change in sound and technique for this adept composer. The piece is at times energetic, and at other times, lyrical. Elusive and ever-changing in harmonic structure and rhythmic content, it all adds up to an exceptional new piece by one of the most popular composers of band music today

This work is a three-part composition based on the Latin words meaning Strength, Skill, and Character. The piece opens with a poignant fanfare depicting the strength of the modern concert band, which is followed by a fast-paced section, meant to demonstrate the performers’ skills. The third section of the work is an uplifting theme designed to depict character. After moving back to the skill theme in a new key, it builds to a dramatic climax, followed by a short coda that bursts to the finish. Ideal for concert or contest.