Grade 2 Concert Band Arrangements
A Can Can Christmas
All the moms and dads, tired from work and holiday shopping and all of the other 'joys of the season,' will still drag themselves to your concert this year. They will, of course, be polite at all costs, but when they hear this work (particularly when Jingle Bells 'happens'), the laughter may cover the music! Guaranteed miles of smiles.
Advance March
Larry Clark continues to dig through all of the wonderful marches of Henry Fillmore (using the pseudonym Harold Bennett) to provide young bands everywhere excellent marches for contest/festival. These tuneful little gems are some of the best young band marches ever written and Advance is no exception. Directors have been eagerly awaiting yearly installments in the Bennett march series for over ten years.
Angels in the Bleak Midwinter
As the title implies, this unique piece combines the beauty of Gustav Holst’s “In the Bleak Midwinter” with the popular “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Lush and stunningly gorgeous, Angels We Have Heard on High.” Lush and stunningly gorgeous, Angels in the Bleak Midwinter manages to be simple and elegant at the same time. This work can be performed alone or with a choral setting and concert band setting. What a great opportunity to include the whole music program!
Angels in the Bleak Midwinter (with Choir)
As the title implies, this unique piece combines the beauty of Gustav Holst’s “In the Bleak Midwinter” with the popular “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Lush and stunningly gorgeous, Angels We Have Heard on High.” Lush and stunningly gorgeous, Angels in the Bleak Midwinter manages to be simple and elegant at the same time. This work can be performed alone or with a choral setting and concert band setting. What a great opportunity to include the whole music program!
The Bells of Christmas
The Bells of Christmas, a medley of popular Christmas carols, incorporates the sounds of ringing bells and chimes as a unifying theme. The piece presents O Tanenbaum, Deck the Halls, Joy to the World and other snippets of holiday favorites in a variety of styles from fanfare gestures to beautiful chorale type settings.
Buckets Full of Christmas Joy
Make your next holiday concert more fun by highlighting your percussion playing “junk band” instruments of paint buckets, plastic school trash cans, metal trash can lids, metal pipes, etc. with this arrangement of popular carols in an aggressive Latin Rock style. Bring your percussion section to the front for the most audience appeal.
Canon for Christmas
Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D has long been one of the most popular classical pieces. In this arrangement, the Canon is combined with popular Christmas carols, such as Hark, the Herald Angels Sing and The First Noel, whose melodies fit nicely over the harmonic progression of Pachelbel's famous canon. This arrangement will work nicely with strings alone or with the optional choir (CM9401).
Canon for Christmas (with Choir)
Carol of the Bells/Greensleeves
The composer calls this type of piece a "Tune Sandwich". Larry has literally combined two of the most popular holiday carols into a full symphonic treatment where both tunes are presented together in a unique way. This is a perfect composition for young bands to dig into for their next holiday concert or for a more advanced group to work up in a few rehearsals.
Christmas a la Big Band
Christmas Classique
This wonderful new Christmas arrangement takes classical music such as the famous Beethoven Sonata Pathétique and the Bach Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring and combines them with holiday favorites such as O, Come All Ye Faithful and Come, All Ye Shepherds. By combining well-loved Christmas carols with standard classical fare, Larry Clark has created a gorgeous new holiday piece for your young band that will delight audiences.
Christmas Gloria
Christmas Gloria begins with a snare drum solo snares off which sets the tone for a bolero style arrangement reminiscent of the Little Drummer Boy but based on the all time favorite Pat-a-Pan. The arrangement builds to a climax that brings in the melody of the Gloria section of Angles We Have Heard On High.
Christmas Toyland
Christmas Toyland is a clever new arrangement that combines the famous march from the Tchaikovsky Nutcracker with the Victor Herbert classic Toyland. It is perfect to reinforce triplets and 3/4 time. The combination of these two wonderful compositions is certain to be an audience favorite.
Courage March (Flex)
Courage March is one of the most popular of the Harold Bennett marches. It is now presented here in a flexible instrumentation edition for bands with instrumentation needs. Tuneful and very fun to play, Courage March will make every band sound their best, and is a good choice for a smaller group to use for contest warm-up. Check out the excerpted version of the recording to see how well the five-part scoring really works.
Coventry Carol
A symphonic fantasia on this popular Christmas carol. It is dramatic and musically sophisticated, but within the technical limitations of the young band. If you want something with depth for your next holiday concert, shock this out.
Eine Kleine Christmas
The lights dim, the audience is hushed, the baton is aloft, and 'away we go!' 'Tis a musical romp with tongue in cheek, and we hope that Mr. Mozart's attorney is not in the house. Smiles will turn to giggles, and even an embouchure or two may fall prey to the humor. Relax... it's the season to be jolly!
Fairest of the Fair
Larry Clark's fine arrangement of Sousa's tuneful march knocks the difficulty down a notch while keeping the edge on the music. Perfect for developing bands that want to experience a crisp Sousa march below the medium level.
Fifers
The Fifers is designed to give your best players an opportunity to play a solo with band accompaniment. Originally composed for harpsichord by Jean-Francois Dandrieu, this lively piece is written in a Baroque style and is perfect for reinforcing sixteenth note rhythms.
Fur Elise
There are a handful of melodies that nearly everyone knows after hearing just the first few notes, and such is the case with this tune. (We imagine that 99.9% of piano students learn the work.) Because of its near-perfect balance in contrasting style and tempos, this concert band scoring not only educates, it also entertains performer and listener alike. Delightful!
Goin' Home for Christmas
Taking the famous Largo from Dvoraks New World Symphony and combining it with holiday favorites, Larry Clark has created a new piece that will live in our Christmas memories. This arrangement will feature the musicianship of your students. This is simple effective and nicely done.
Goin' Home for the Holidays
Combining two wonderful tunes into one new Christmas classic, Larry Clark takes the famous Largo from Dvorak's Symphony No. 9, From the New World and links it together with the popular holiday classic Home for the Holidays. The result is a piece where these tunes sound like they were always meant to be together. A uniquely musical way to showcase your band at their holiday concert. There is also a choral setting of this arrangement that will add to the excitement!
Goin' Home for the Holidays (with Choir)
Combining two wonderful tunes into one new Christmas classic, Larry Clark takes the famous Largo from Dvorak's Symphony No. 9, From the New World and links it together with the popular holiday classic Home for the Holidays. The result is a piece where these tunes sound like they were always meant to be together. A uniquely musical way to showcase your band at their holiday concert. There is also a choral setting of this arrangement that will add to the excitement!
Have a Reggae Christmas 'Mom'
We Three Kings, Silent Night and Jingle Bells are given colorful, laid-back treatment in this great new seasonal medley by Larry Clark. Each carol gets its own "Reggae" groove, with a slightly different tempo. The inventive Caribbean-styled percussion writing will make this piece a real crowd-pleaser.
Hey Man Christmas Rocks
Three different rock styles (Hard Rock, Shuffle and Latin Rock) are used to juice up three familiar popular Christmas tunes (Jolly Old St. Nicholas, Up On the Housetop, and Jingle Bells) in this fun-filled Christmas medley. The scoring is expert and the infectious verve of the piece will make it the highlight of any Christmas program.
Hey Man Christmas Swings
A swingin’ look at some of the best-known Christmas carols (Angels We Have Heard on High, Silent Night, Jingle Bells, et. al.) that will light up the Christmas tree! A clever tribute to the big band era that is guaranteed to steal the show at the band’s next holiday concert.
Hiland March
The yearly release of a Larry Clark arrangement of a classic Harold Bennett (aka Henry Fillmore) young band march has become a tradition at Carl Fischer. These wonderfully tuneful marches are great choices for contest/festival and for teaching the standard American march form and style to your students. Larry has been a champion for getting young bands to play in this important style and has successfully brought us another lost gem by Henry Fillmore.
His Honor
This classic Henry Fillmore march is considered one of his finest. His Honor is one of FillmoreÆs ôfast and funö circus style marches, containing his classic whimsical look at the world. Since it's premiere in 1933, It has become one of Fillmore's most popular marches. This new edition for flexible instrumentation lets bands with a small number of players perform this delightful work.
Home for the Holidays
From its wistful, richly voiced chorale opening to its upbeat, happy swing section, this expresses the holiday spirit with genuine warmth. A great walking bass line and a light pop feel help to make this a must for community groups as well as school bands! Highly recommended!
I Saw Carmen Kissing Santa Claus
Bizet meets Santa in this spectacular holiday montage! Several famous themes from the opera Carmen are intertwined with a host of favorite Christmas carols. Get the audience involved by having them figure out how many Christmas tunes are sprinkled in this marvelous piece. Titles include: Patapan; Joy to the World; Angels We Have Heard on High; Good King Wenceslas; Silent Night and Jingle Bells. It's fantastic fun for all!
Lullaby for Christmas
Lullaby for Christmas is a unique combining of popular lullabies such as the Brahm’ Lullaby and Hush-a-bye Baby with the favorite Christmas carols Away In a Manger and O, Holy Night. A beautiful and subtle arrangement to celebrate the Christmas season!
Lassus Trombone
Henry Fillmore is best known for his outpouring of successful marches. This becomes even more impressive when one realizes that he also wrote under eight names. He is also known as the 'father of the Trombone smear' because of the wide acceptance of LASSUS TROMBONE and fourteen other compositions of this nature. Larry Clark greatly reduces any technical difficulties, leaving intact the great glissando effects that your audiences (and your trombone players) will love!
Military Escort
The most popular of Harold Bennett's (a.k.a Henry Fillmore) marches, Military Escort is one that even Sousa wished he had written. From the opening trumpet fanfare to the tuneful trio, this classic is one of the best! Larry Clark has arranged this, as he has many other Harold Bennett marches, to be better suited for today's bands. This is a proven winner in an arrangement that you know will work.
Normal March
This march is one of Harold Bennett's (pseudonym of Henry Fillmore) finest. It is in Henry Fillmore's typical fast and fun vein and in standard march form. What is unique about this classic from the original Bennett Band Book is that it is one of the few Bennett marches that includes a "break strain," which will make it a great introduction to younger students to prepare them to play the more challenging marches of Fillmore, Sousa and others.
Outback Rhapsody
Outback Rhapsody introduces the delightful music of Australia in a contest style piece. It is perfect to reinforce 6/8 time in 2. It combines 3 popular folk songs from Australia and would be great to use in a multicultural presentation.
Pacem Noel
Larry Clark takes two of the most well-known songs for the holidays and cleverly combines them into a seamless new musical experience. The famous Dona Nobis Pacem tune is merged with The First Noel into an exquisite arrangement with the title suggesting that we all have "Peace for Christmas." Your students will feel the spirit of the season while playing this heartwarming work for the holidays, ideal for a holiday concert.
Pacem Noel - with Chorus
Larry Clark takes two of the most well-known songs for the holidays and cleverly combines them into a seamless new musical experience. The famous Dona Nobis Pacem tune is merged with The First Noel into an exquisite arrangement with the title suggesting that we all have "Peace for Christmas." Your students will feel the spirit of the season while playing this heartwarming work for the holidays, ideal for a holiday concert.
Pivot Man March
Another exceptional young band march from the pen of Henry Fillmore. This one is reminiscent of the popular Miltary Escort in style. It is the perfect combination of tuneful melodies, heralding trumpets, and fun march rhythms. An excellent choice for contest/festival performance.
Power March
This is one of Harold Bennett's (pseudonym of Henry Fillmore) lesser-known marches, but that is no indication of its quality. It is a 6/8 march in standard march form but what is unique about this classic from the original Bennett Band Book is that it is one of the few Bennett marches that includes a "break strain." This makes it a great introduction for younger students to prepare them to play the more challenging marches of Fillmore, Sousa, and others.
Precision March
Larry Clark has been breathing new life into Harold Bennett’s delightful marches for younger groups over the past decade, and your group will absolutely love Precision. A wonderful tool for teaching younger students the March style, this work also introduces them to the “break strain.” A great way to show your band the genius of Bennett marches at the earliest point possible!
Radetzky March (Flex)
One of the most popular marches ever written by classical composer Johann Strauss has for the first time been scored for flexible instrumentation groups by Larry Clark. This is a true gem in the repertoire, and now every band can use this great march for contest or festival, regardless of their instrumentation issues.
Rock America
Rock America opens with a full band lyrical statement of America the Beautiful leading to a restatement of America the Beautiful in a hip new style reminiscent of the great Ray Charles version. The arrangement includes You’re a Grand Old Flag, which has elements of the rock feel, interspersed with a traditional march style.
Safety March
Safety is yet another delightful little march from Henry Fillmore written under the pseudonym of Harold Bennett. Larry Clark has breathed new life into 18 of these excellent young band marches already and he continues this year with a tuneful one in 6/8 time. This is an important time signature in the march form and will prepare young students for more advanced 6/8 marches by Fillmore, Sousa and others.
Silent Night
Inspired by the Gymnopedie No. 1 of turn-of-the-century French master, Eric Satie, Larry Clark has crafted an easy and charmingly scored version of the popular Christmas carol Silent Night that will be an ornament to any young band’s holiday program.. Several lovely original counter melodies are introduced and the selection as a whole has a warm and wonderful sheen.
Silent Night - with Chorus
Inspired by the Gymnopedie No. 1 of turn-of-the-century French master, Eric Satie, Larry Clark has crafted an easy and charmingly scored version of the popular Christmas carol Silent Night that will be an ornament to any young band’s holiday program.. Several lovely original counter melodies are introduced and the selection as a whole has a warm and wonderful sheen.
Snarendipity
Snarendipity features solo snare drum with band. This piece can be performed by one snare drummer or with multiple snare drum soloists. The snare drum part includes contemporary sounds as well as many rudiments.
Suo Gan
This popular Welsh folk song has been used in TV and movies over the years, but you have never heard it quite like this! Larry Clark's stunning setting contains lyrical countermelodies, a lush harmonic perspective, and just plan beautiful writing. Stretch the musicianship of your students with this wonderful arrangement.
Sweet Little Manger Child
This subtle, yet tasteful arrangement for the holiday season includes the African-American styled piece Sweet Little Jesus Boy by Robert MacGimsey paired with the traditional Away in a Manger. Larry Clark continues to find creative ways to merge two popular Christmas favorites and make it seem as if they were always meant to be seamlessly combined. This is the mark of a great composer/arranger. We know you and your students will enjoy this stunning arrangement.
Welcome March
What could be better for contest warm-up than to play a tuneful Harold Bennett march? Larry Clark has arranged a classic for today's young bands, and it is perfect for introducing the march form and style to young players. We're pleased to bring this standard back into the spotlight.
Winter Holidays
Winter Holidays is unique in that it combines four favorite holiday songs of both Christmas and Hanukah. The songs are heard alone and together, at one point combining three of the melodies in a musical celebration exemplifying both the uniqueness and the unifying forces of the holiday season.