First Chorus (Grades 1-2)
Straight Ahead (Grades 3-4)
Salsafied! (Grades 3-4)
Spotlight (Grades 4-5)
Extensions (Grades 5-6)
Mike Vax
Marching Band
Combos
EXTENSIONS (Grades 5-6)
(Grade Level 5-6) For the college ensembles or very advanced high school groups, this series means just what it says – extended in every way. Extended tempos, fast and slow. Extended ranges for the brass, up to written DOUBLE G for the lead trumpet. Numerous woodwind doubles for the saxes including soprano saxes, flutes, clarinets, and bass clarinets. Perhaps most importantly, the musical language is extended into the realm of sophisticated concert music recalling the works of Gil Evans, Bob Brookmeyer and Maria Schneider. Dynamics and ensemble balance play critical roles and multiple time signatures are not uncommon, sometimes even in the solo sections. Orchestral colors and textures are used. This is wonderful and very challenging music, and we’re proud to include it in our catalog.
Just Passing Through
Grade 5 Contemporary Composer:John Vander Gheynst Price:$60
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full version
Inspired by the sudden appearance of an idyllic patch of green meadow in the midst of concrete civilization, this beautiful tone poem moves through a variety of moods and colors featuring extended solos for piano and tenor sax. Trumpet range to written high G. Flute doubles.
Kissing Babies
Grade 5 Rock/Funk Composer:John Vander Gheynst Price:$60
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full version
Heavy Metal Atonal Rock ‘n roll Big band at its best. Be sure to listen to the mp3’s provided as mere words can’t really capture the megawattage of this chart. Every section gets a thorough workout. Tenor sax is the featured soloist. Three soprano saxes required.
Missing You
Grade 5 Ballad Composer:John Vander Gheynst Price:$60
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full version
This introspective ballad is a feature vehicle for the trumpet soloist. A haunting blend of ensemble textures sets the tone as it moves towards a clever metric modulation, catapulting the soloist into an up tempo swing section. After giving way to an alto solo, the music builds to the peak emotional climax, and then we pick up as we began, with the lonesome trumpet leading the way home. Trumpet range is to written high F#.
Resolution
Grade 5 Ballad Composer:Paul White Price:$60
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full version
A warm and moving ballad featuring the tenor sax. The ensemble provides subtle accompaniment with woodwind doubles on all the sax parts before shifting into a brief double time feature of its own.
Spazz Jazz
Grade 5 Swing Composer:Paul Baker Price:$50
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full version
Everybody knows that one person in their life, a loose cannon that could go off at any time in any direction. This postmodern minor blues is dedicated to such a person, Jim “Spazz” Spasinsky. The melody is a little off, the form is a little off, and the a capella “space cadet” section endeavors to go where no man has gone before – into the mind of Spazz. Each section in the band is challenged. Solos for alto sax, trumpet, and drums. Trumpet range is to written high D with optional E and F (both are notated on the part and score).
The Day Suite - movement 1
Grade 6 Contemporary Composer:John Vander Gheynst Price:$150 for all three Mvt’s, $60 for single Mvt.
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full version
Winner of the 2005 Downbeat Magazine award for Best Extended Composition and a true Tour de Force for the entire ensemble in every sense of the term. Defining the Extensions Series, this work in three movements is a tone poem for jazz ensemble describing three different times of the day – Morning Rush Hour, with all its frenetic energy, Evening Song – the calm of the evening, and Heat of the Day, when the heat is inescapable. Listen to the mp3’s and enjoy.
Movement 3 can be performed apart from the first two as a standalone piece. If the entire suite is performed, all three Mvt’s are contiguous. The combined running time is approx. 31 minutes.
The Day Suite - movement 2
Grade 6 Contemporary Composer:John Vander Gheynst Price:$150 for all three Mvt’s, $60 for single Mvt.
excerpt
full version
Winner of the 2005 Downbeat Magazine award for Best Extended Composition and a true Tour de Force for the entire ensemble in every sense of the term. Defining the Extensions Series, this work in three movements is a tone poem for jazz ensemble describing three different times of the day – Morning Rush Hour, with all its frenetic energy, Evening Song – the calm of the evening, and Heat of the Day, when the heat is inescapable. Listen to the mp3’s and enjoy.
Movement 3 can be performed apart from the first two as a standalone piece. If the entire suite is performed, all three Mvt’s are contiguous. The combined running time is approx. 31 minutes.
The Day Suite - movement 3
Grade 6 Contemporary Composer:John Vander Gheynst Price:$150 for all three Mvt’s, $60 for single Mvt.
excerpt
full version
Winner of the 2005 Downbeat Magazine award for Best Extended Composition and a true Tour de Force for the entire ensemble in every sense of the term. Defining the Extensions Series, this work in three movements is a tone poem for jazz ensemble describing three different times of the day – Morning Rush Hour, with all its frenetic energy, Evening Song – the calm of the evening, and Heat of the Day, when the heat is inescapable. Listen to the mp3’s and enjoy.
Movement 3 can be performed apart from the first two as a standalone piece. If the entire suite is performed, all three Mvt’s are contiguous. The combined running time is approx. 31 minutes.