Compositions for Band
Heroic
Grade .5
Excelcia Music Publishing
A joyous and triumphant work for the youngest bands! All sections have an opportunity to play this uplifting melody built on the first six notes of the B-flat scale. The perfect opener for their first concert!
JW Pepper Editor's Choice Award 2024
Dark Star
Grade 1
Excelcia Music Publishing
The low brass and low woodwinds are brought right to the fore in this driving and high-energy original work. Young brass players will have the opportunity to expand their lower range, and lots of great percussion scoring will make this a concert favorite! - GA 1, NC-1, SC-1
JW Pepper Editor's Choice Award 2022
Bandworld Magazine's Top 100 for 2022
Stanton's 5 Star Feature 2022
Dragon Slide
Grade 1
Excelcia Music Publishing
An outstanding trombone section feature for beginning students - the rest of the ensemble enjoys interesting and engaging parts, and the open fourth harmonies as well as the gong add of a hint of Far Eastern sounds. A great choice as a concert or recruitment piece that is sure to entertain both students and audiences alike.
JW Pepper Editor's Choice Award 2023
Giant Slayer
Grade 1
Excelcia Music Publishing
This amazing work for beginning band has everything you need for a successful first outing with your young musicians! A solid melody with lots of excitement built within an accessible one-octave range makes this a must-have for your program this season. It will slay ALL your giants!
JW Pepper Editor's Choice Award 2024
The Forge
Grade 1
Excelcia Music Publishing
Optional metal trash cans and cool trombone glissandos make this work a rocking good time for students and audience alike! You will think back to the Song of the Hammersmith when you hear this! A minor melody and darker mood combined with the metallic sounds of percussion will be an exciting grouping for your students! GA-1
JW Pepper Editor's Choice Award 2021
Brace for Impact
Grade 1.5
Excelcia Music Publishing
Driving and high-intensity from start to finish – comfortable ranges along with excellent use of repetition and unison rhythms make this piece highly accessible and will have your young band sounding full and mature. A hot percussion feature adds to the excitement. This high-octane gem is the perfect opener or closer to your concert program!ARK-1, NC-2
JW Pepper Editor's Choice Award 2022
Bandworld Magazine's Top 100 for 2022
Outta Time!
Grade 1.5
Excelcia Music Publishing
Filled with tension and a sense of urgency, the constant pulse of this exciting piece mimics that of a ticking clock, steadily inching its way toward an unknown conclusion. This is the perfect teaching tool for a wide variety of dynamics and articulations as well as dotted quarter-note rhythms. The contrasting B section reinforces phrasing and breath control while still maintaining the intensity. Sure to be a go-to favorite!
JW Pepper Editor's Choice Award 2023
Trajectory
Grade 1.5
Excelcia Music Publishing
Exciting, cinematic, engaging, and fun for musicians and audiences alike! Each section enjoys amazing parts, percussion has plenty to accomplish, and your band will love it so much they won't realize how much they are learning about rhythm and articulations. They’ll ask to play it again and again!
JW Pepper Editor's Choice Award 2024
Aces of the Sky (March)
Grade 2
Wingert Jones Publishing
Exiting and accessible, this modern take on the classic Fillmore march is a perfect introduction to the march style – it has everything you need to teach this traditional concert band form and put on a great show at the same time. A worthwhile addition to any concert band library.
JW Pepper Editor's Choice Award 2024
Forevermore
Grade 2
Excelcia Music Publishing
Lyrical in style, but with motion, the tuneful and thoughtful melody will charm and captivate your students. Beginning with a sax melody and well-scored low voices, the orchestration of this work is effectively used throughout. You will also find some good lines for your mallet players. Program something thoughtful like this beautiful work!
Scarborough Fantasy
Grade 2 by Christina Huss & R. Alan Carter
Carl Fischer Music
This hauntingly beautiful composition featuring beautiful original and traditional melodies with lush harmonic construction lets performers experience and learn about expressive playing in minor keys. With a lyrical legato flow, emotional key change, and several musically expressive moments for every section, this inspiring work offers a modern take on a timeless classic. Perfect for use as contrast on a concert program or for a contest ballad. Fl 3, GA 3
JW Pepper Editor's Choice Award 2022
Stanton's 5 Star Feature 2022
When An Angel Gets Its Wings
Grade 2
Excelcia Music Publishing
From the opening chord you know you are in for a wonderfully moving, expressive, lush, poignant, and musical work for the developing concert band. With a nod to the main Largo theme from Dvorak's Symphony No. 9, this beautiful work will stretch the musicianship of your players and move the hearts of your audience.
JW Pepper Editor's Choice Award 2024
A Song for Peace
Grade 2.5
Excelcia Music Publishing
From the opening chord you know you are in for a wonderfully moving, expressive, lush, poignant, and musical work for the developing concert band. With a nod to the main Largo theme from Dvorak's Symphony No. 9, this beautiful work will stretch the musicianship of your players and move the hearts of your audience.
JW Pepper Editor's Choice Award 2023
Anthem for Freedom
Grade 2.5 by Christina Huss & R. Alan Carter
Excelcia Music Publishing
Perfect for patriotic concerts, this work features the melody Chester interwoven with original melodies and developed into a musical battle march! This is a wonderful tribute with beautiful writing for all sections of the ensemble.
JW Pepper Editor's Choice Award 2021
As A River Flows
Grade 3 by Christina Huss & R. Alan Carter
Excelcia Music Publishing
This salute to Americana is a gorgeous ballad based on several folk songs about rivers. Flowing lyrical lines, rich harmonic language, and sonorous chorale scoring drive this composition to a wonderful peak of all of the themes combined before settling into a pleasing conclusion. A wonderful showcase for a strong horn section. Don't miss this musical treat! GA-3
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Bamboo Warrior
Grade 3
Excelcia Music Publishing
This outstanding dramatic work will be the highlight of every concert and contest program for high school and advanced middle school bands! Inspired by the musical culture of the Far East, this piece utilizes the full range of the concert band with highly dramatic scoring including lush, full, and beautiful lyrical moments contrasted with driving, aggressive, and powerful motifs. Powerhouse percussion scoring including taiko drums puts it over the edge. A hit! MD-3, MN-3, NC-3, VA-4
JW Pepper Editor's Choice Award 2022
Bandworld Magazine's Top 100 for 2022
Legend of the Honjo
Grade 3
Excelcia Music Publishing
Based on the legend of the famed samurai sword, The Honjo Masamune, this moving new work from Christina Huss is a thought-provoking experience for the developing musician. A beautifully lyrical work with a heart-stopping climax makes this a sure-fire hit on any concert program.
JW Pepper Editor's Choice Award 2024
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Remembering Pearl Harbor
Grade 3.5 by R. Alan Carter & Christina Huss
Excelcia Music Publishing
Written to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, this stirring tribute honors the heroes of December 7, 1941. Beginning with chimes signifying the hour of the attack, the composition takes listeners and performers on a moving journey from the precarious moments before the attack, through the air strike, and on to its devasting aftermath. Including statements of Anchors Aweigh; Taps; Eternal Father, Strong to Save and fragments of many American tunes, use this composition to teach about American history and the resilience of all mankind.
Stanton's 5 Star Feature 2022
As Spirits Soar
Grade 2
Randall Standridge Music
Take to the skies with this exhuberant new work by comopser Christina Huss! This concert opener combines exciting rhythms, tasteful percussion, and a keen sense of motivic development to create a work that sparkles. Bursting with a sense of joy and energy, this work is sure to be a favorite of your developing musicians.
JW Pepper Editor's Choice Award 2023
Of Lochs and Thistles
Grade 2
Randall Standridge Music
Christina Huss showcases her lyrical and melodic prowess in this beautiful new work for young ensembles. Of Lochs and Thistles evokes the folk music of Scotland, with soaring melodies, lush harmonies, and tasteful percussion. Orchestrated with developing musicians in mind, this work will serve as a vehicle for expressive playing and tonal development, as well as providing a wonderful contrast at your next concert or festival performance.
JW Pepper Editor's Choice Award 2023
Bandworld Magazine's Top 100 for 2023
Operation Super Sleuth
Grade 2
Randall Standridge Music
Warning! This description will self-destruct in thirty seconds! The excitement of spy and detective movies is translated to young band by composer Christina Huss! Beginning with a brief slow section to set a film noir-esque mood, the work quickly moves into a faster mode in 3/4 time as the chase is on! Rhythmic and driving, this work will provide a great challenge for your developing musicians! ...3...2...1...BOOM!
JW Pepper Editor's Choice Award 2023
Stanton's 5 Star Feature 2022