You Decide (Grade 1.5)

for flexible band instrumentation

Recorded by the Langley High School Wind Symphony.

Note: This recording has every part playing the A line for the entire piece. Not every recording will sound the same depending on how one chooses to handle the different phrase options given throughout the piece. There is also optional percussion in the score that you can use if desired. 

About the Piece

 This piece is written for five parts (plus optional percussion) to accommodate various instrumentations in a concert band setting. I want to give students the opportunity to play a role in the composition process, therefore the piece is set up so each part has an option A and an option B line. The teacher and students can decide which option to play every 8 bars. For example, the instruments on Part 1 can all play option A for measures 1-8, while Parts 2-5 play option B. Every 8 bars the students on each part can decide which option to play.

One possible way to approach learning the piece is to have the band all learn option A together followed by learning option B together. After the students have a good grasp on the piece, more freedom can be given over which option to play every 8 bars. The wind parts are set up with 8 measures per line so that the students can use a pencil to circle line A or B to help remember which line they are supposed to play.

 I did not give an option of part A or B between m. 17-25 and m. 41-end, therefore lines A and B are the same during those phrases.

Listen to a MIDI sample as all parts play option A together: