Concert Band

Concert band music from Excelcia Music Publishing is published in six color-coded series: Prelude (grade .5), Da Capo (grade 1), Harmony (grade 1.5), Intermezzo (grade 2 to 2.5), Rhapsody (grade 3 to 3.5) and Maestro (grade 4 and up). Each series is carefully graded with composers following strict criteria established by the editorial team. Rest assured when you pick a piece in a specific series and grade level, it will fit your band’s developmental needs in regards to ranges, keys, rhythms, etc. Each piece has been highly vetted in the selection process and meticulously edited, so you know you are getting the best quality music for concert band available today. The score and parts are beautifully set for ease of reading, with unique features like oversized time signatures in the conductor’s scores and measure numbers on the parts at every measure, to help facilitate efficient rehearsals. Professional recordings of each piece are available and can be used as pedagogical examples for your students of good tone and musicianship. Many pieces in the series are available on SmartMusic. Expect the finest music by the best composers from ExcelciaMusic Publishing—Music that Inspires.

• Pieces using the first 6 notes of the Bb scale
• Rhythm: whole, half, quarter and two repeated eighth-notes
• Optional alternate parts for Horn (lower range) and Trombone (nothing past 4th position)
• Low brass and low woodwinds cover the bass line

• Playable by first year musicians
• Limited range of the first octave
• Rhythm: whole, half, quarter and simple eighth-note patterns
• Clarinet part stays below the break
• Bass line is reinforced throughout with multiple lower instruments
• Active percussion

• Accessible to first year musicians and those beginning the second year of study
• Range is expanded, but still limited
• Rhythm: whole, half, quarter and eighth-notes, simple syncopation
• Addition of two Trumpet and Clarinet parts. 2nd Clarinet stays below the break, 1st • Clarinet crosses the break carefully
• Bass line is reinforced throughout, but with more independence in the low brass
• Active percussion

• Accessible to second and third year musicians
• Range is expanded, but still carefully considered
• Rhythm: whole, half, quarter and eighth-notes, and simple sixteenth patterns
• Clarinet 2 still stays below the break
• Separate parts for Trombone, Euphonium, and Bassoon
• Careful scoring to make the band sound full
• Percussion treated as an important color

• Fully scored pieces for upper middle school and high school
• Range is expanded, but still carefully considered
• More advanced rhythms and part independence
• 3 Clarinet and Trumpet parts, 2 Horn and Trombone parts
• Generous cross-cueing of solos or exposed parts
• More advanced use of percussion

• Fully scored pieces for high school and collegiate level ensembles
• High artistic merit
• Range is within reason for advancing ensembles
• Rhythm: within reason and more use of mixed meter
• Scoring makes use of all colors
• Cross-cueing of solos or exposed parts
• More advanced use of percussion
• Percussion as an essential color

• Scored by key (not instrument) for stand-out flexibility and preparedness
• Play with any combination of wind, string & percussion instruments – with as few as five players, plus percussion
• Written for grades 1-3
• Includes professional recordings
• Easy to transition to the fully-scored version of the piece