The Music of Michael Blackman

 

Composer's Notes

 

 

·        BD01--Beginning Band Rock!

 (Blackman)($18.95)

Composer’s notes:

I have used this piece so many times.  It is very straightforward and the kids absolutely love it.  It includes most of the musical elements that I want them to understand by the end of their first year – slurs, 1st/2nd endings, piano and forte, multi-measure rests, divisi, and a few accidentals.  There are six percussion parts including bells.

 

·       BD22—A Caribbean Vacation

(Blackman)($18.95)

Composer’s notes:

I got tired of people telling me that my Advanced Band tunes are all too serious.  This original calypso-style piece is just plain fun, and quite a bit easier than it sounds.  The scoring is not thick, and it has just a few dotted-quarter notes.  The percussion section (six players) is featured a bit, although the parts are not very difficult.  Sixteenth notes appear only in the tenor drum part.

 

·        BD02—The Erie Canal

(arr. Blackman)($18.95)

 

·       BD23—Grandfather’s Clock

(arr. Blackman)($18.95)

Composer’s notes:

This arrangement of the popular children’s tune is a great way to feature your percussion section while sharing melodies around all of the sections of the ensemble.  The snare drum part calls for 5- and 9-stroke rolls, and the temple blocks part is important.

 

 

·        BD03—Hartford

(Billings, arr. Blackman)($18.95)

 

 

·        BD04—March for Spring

(Blackman)($18.95)

Composer’s notes:

Although the melody of this march is fairly simple, the scoring is a bit thicker than some of my Beginning Band tunes.  I like to use it with a larger/more confident group and try to push the tempo a bit.  It has a key change, a few accidentals, plenty of slurred quarter notes, just a couple of “paired” (same pitch) eighth notes, and a first/second ending.

 

·        BD05—Scenes of Egypt

 (Blackman)($18.95)

Composer’s notes:

 

      * BD06—The Blue Bells of Scotland

        (arr. Blackman)($18.95)

 

·       BD07—Brattle Street

(Billings, arr. Blackman)($18.95)

 

·       BD08—Burlington

(Billings, arr. Blackman)($18.95)

 

·       BD09—David’s Lamentation

(Billings, arr. Blackman)($18.95)

 

·       BD10—Fantasy on “Ode to Joy”

(Beethoven, arr. Blackman)($18.95)

 

·       BD11—Het Dorpsfeest (The Country Festival)

(arr. Blackman)($18.95)

 

·       BD12—The Huron Indian Carol

(arr. Blackman)($18.95)

 

·       BD21—La Cancion Muy Buena (“A Very Nice Song”)

(Blackman)($18.95)

Composer’s notes:

I am quite pleased with this original composition.  I took all of those Spanish-sounding clichés and combined them into one piece.  Kids absolutely love it, and it gets them reading in the key of concert A-flat.  As always, I was sure to give the low voices some action.  The transitions will take some time to work out, but they’re pretty impressive in the end!  Try to cover all five percussion parts.

 

·       BD13—Meadowlands

(Blackman)($18.95)

 

·       BD14—Musette

Feature flute and/or clarinet.

(Bach, arr. Blackman) ($18.95)

 

·       BD15—Music for the Royal Fireworks

(Handel, arr. Blackman) ($18.95)

Composer’s notes:

I would use this arrangement with my second-year students on their Winter Concert.  It has no dotted quarter notes, but does require some rhythmic independence.  Slurred eighth notes appear in every wind part.  The key and limited range give the piece a full majestic sound, and it certainly exposes the students to a mature and significant work.

 

·       BD16—Proud Moments

(Blackman) ($18.95)

 

·       BD17—Saddle and Spur

For solo xylophone (grade IV) and band (grade II)

(Joyce, arr. Blackman) ($18.95)

 

·       BD18—Susato Suite-Excerpts

(Susato, arr. Blackman) ($18.95)

Composer’s notes:

All of Tylman Susato’s music is so wonderful, and this arrangement of two of his fanfares is a great way to turn kids on to it.  It’s the perfect piece to play after teaching sixteenth notes, as the rhythms are quite straightforward, and the tempo does not have to be fast.  I would recommend teaching the second half of the piece first.

 

·       BD19—Swansea Town

(Holst, arr, Blackman) ($18.95)

 

·       BD20—When There Were Wizards and Kings

(Blackman) ($18.95)

 

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