Bells of Freedom (5-Part Flex Band Gr. 1.5)

Here's a tasty little march in a straight-ahead style that is sure to appeal to your beginning band. Bells of Freedom is aptly titled, too, and its patriotic feeling is enhanced by a few phrases of the National Anthem.

Genre: 5-Part Flex Band | # of Players: 5+
Series: The SpectraFlex Series
Level: 1.5 | Duration: 3:40

Instrumentation
Transposed Score (showing all transposed parts)
Condensed Score (only "C" parts)

Adaptable Parts
(2 copies of each of all parts for each listed instrument)

Part 1: Flute, Oboe/Violin, B-flat Clarinet/Trumpet

Part 2: Flute, Oboe, B-flat Clarinet/Trumpet, E-flat Alto Saxophone, Violin

Part 3: B-flat ClarinetTrumpet, E-flat Alto Saxophone, F Horn, Viola

Part 4: B-flat Tenor Saxophone, F Horn, Trombone/Euphonium/Bassoon, Cello

Part 5: B-flat Bass Clarinet, E-flat Baritone Saxophone, Trombone/Euphonium/Bassoon, Tuba, Double Bass

Percussion Parts
Percussion 1: Snare Drum
Percussion 2: Concert Tom, Bass Drum, Suspended Cymbal
Percussion 3: Chimes, Bells
Percussion 4: Triangle, Crash Cymbals, Xylophone

Program Notes
Bells of Freedom is a concert march written for the beginning band. It has patriotic overtones since the melodic material for the first and second strains borrows motives from the Star-Spangled Banner and the ending quotes the last phrase of the National Anthem. Additionally, the feature of chimes in the percussion carries patriotic connotations.

There are a few issues that will make this march a bit more challenging than the standard fare of Grade I band works. First, there is a feature by the chimes. Secondly, the range of flute extends to the high C, which may be a note that has not been taught at this early stage, but certainly one in which the fingering can be easily learned.

-David R. Gillingham

ABOUT THE SERIES
The SpectraFlex Series for adaptable wind band offers flexibility with pieces across all grade levels, featuring traditional high-to-low scoring with 5 or 6 parts and optional percussion. Each part is transposed and playable by a multitude of wind or keyboard percussion instruments while maintaining the spectrum of sound we have grown to love about the wind band.