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Recommended Repertoire

My tastes in band music for the middle school level tend to be quite narrow. The works listed in these recommendations have all been rehearsed and performed by the McCracken Middle School Bands. There are many wonderful works, that I just haven’t had the opportunity to program yet!

Works designated as “core” are those that I consider to be important to the young band repertoire. While the others may or may not have the same degree of musical depth, they are all pieces that I have enjoyed preparing and performing with my students.

Want to ensure quality programing for your students? Only select music in which the musical difficulty meets or exceeds the technical difficulty.

Title Composer Grade Core? Able to Purchase?
Abracadabra
Manhattan Beach Music
Ticheli, Frank 3 Core repertoire Purchase
African Festival
Neil A. Kjos Music Company
Traditional
arr. Bruce Pearson
2 Core repertoire Purchase
African Folk Trilogy
Queenwood/Kjos
McGinty, Anne 1 Not core repertoire Purchase
Albanian Dance
Boosey and Hawkes
Hanson, Shelley 4 Core repertoire Purchase
Alegría
Aspenwood Music
Chambers, Carol Brittin 3 Core repertoire
All Ye Young Sailors
Daehn Publications
LaPlante, Pierre 1 Core repertoire Purchase
Alleluia
Alfred Publishing Company
Mozart, W. A.
arr. John O'Reilly
1+ Not core repertoire Purchase
Alligator Alley
Bandquest
Daugherty, Michael 4- Core repertoire Purchase
Amazing Grace
Manhattan Beach Music
Ticheli, Frank 4 Core repertoire Purchase
American Folk Rhapsody #3
Boosey and Hawkes
Grundman, Clare 3 Core repertoire Purchase
American Riversongs
Daehn Publications
La Plante, Pierre 3 Core repertoire Purchase
Ancient City of Stone
Grand Mesa Music
Vogel, Kirk 1+ Not core repertoire Purchase
Ancient Dialogue
Daehn Publications
Burns, Patrick 3- Not core repertoire Purchase
Ancient Voices
Hal Leonard Corporation
Sweeney, Michael 2 Not core repertoire Purchase
Andante and Allegro
Alfred Publishing Company
Corelli, Arcangelo
arr. Phillip Gordon
2- Not core repertoire Purchase
Arabian Dances
Alfred Publishing Company
Barrett, Roland 2 Not core repertoire Purchase
As Winds Dance
Boosey and Hawkes
Hazo, Samuel 2 Not core repertoire Purchase
Ascend
Hal Leonard Corporation
Hazo, Sam 3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Battle Pavane, The
Manhattan Beach Music
Susato, Tielman
arr. Bob Margolis
2 Core repertoire Purchase
Baywood Overture
C. L. Barnhouse
Swearington, James 1+ Not core repertoire Purchase
Belle Qui Tiens Ma Vie
Manhattan Beach Music
Arbeau, Thoinot
arr. Bob Margolis
2- Core repertoire Purchase
Brazillian Folk Dance Suite
Kjos Publications
Rhoads, William 3 Not core repertoire Purchase
British Isles Suite
Daehn Publications
Daehn, Larry 2 Not core repertoire Purchase
British Waterside
G. Schirmer, Inc
Grainger, Percy
arr. John Moss
2+ Core repertoire Purchase
Builder’s Dream, A
FJH
Sims, Adrian 2- Core repertoire Purchase
Cafe 512
Fornine Music
George, Ryan 3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Cajun Folk Songs
Manhattan Beach Music
Ticheli, Frank 3+ Core repertoire Purchase
Canarios Fantasia
Alfred Publishing Company
Akey, Douglas 4 Core repertoire Purchase
Cascade Festival Overture
Alfred Publishing Company
Williams, Mark 2 Not core repertoire Purchase
Cascade River Overture
Queenwood/Kjos
Akey, Douglas 3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Cave You Fear, The
Markowski Creative
Markowski, Michael 2 Core repertoire Purchase
Celtic Air and Dance
Hal Leonard
Sweeney, Michael 2 Core repertoire Purchase
Celtic Air and Dance No. 2
Hal Leonard Corporation
Sweeney, Michael 2 Core repertoire Purchase
Chandé
victorianovalencia.com
Valencia, Victoriano 3 Core repertoire
Chorale and Capriccio
Dorabet Music
Giovannini, Ceasar
arr. Wayne Robinson
4 Core repertoire Purchase
Chorale and Fugue
Daehn Publications
Bach, J. S.
arr. Larry Daehn
3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Chorale and Mystic Chant
FJH
Loest, Timothy 1 Core repertoire Purchase
Chorale and Shaker Dance
Carl Fischer, Inc.
Zdecklik, John 4 Core repertoire Purchase
Choreography
Alfred Publishing Company
Sheldon, Robert 3+ Core repertoire Purchase
Ciacona in C minor
manuscript
Buxtehude, Dietrich
arr. Chip De Stefano
4 Core repertoire Purchase
Circus Days
C. L. Barnhouse
King, Karl
arr. Loras Schissel
3 Core repertoire Purchase
Coast Guards
C. L. Barnhouse
King, Karl
arr. James Swearingen
3 Core repertoire Purchase
Coldwater Creek
C. L. Barnhouse
Sheldon, Robert 1 Not core repertoire Purchase
Colliding Visions
FJH Music Company
Balmages, Brian 1 Not core repertoire Purchase
Concert Variations
Wingert-Jones Publications
Smith, Claude T. 4 Not core repertoire Purchase
Copland Tribute, A
Boosey and Hawkes
Copland, Aaron
arr. Clare Grundmann
4 Core repertoire Purchase
Country Club Stomp, The
FJH Music Company
Hall, JaRod 3 Core repertoire Purchase
Courtly Airs and Dances
Ludwig Music Company
Nelson, Ron 3+ Core repertoire Purchase
Danzon
victorianovalencia.com
Valencia, Victoriano 2 Core repertoire
Dinosaurs
Phoebus Publications
Bukvich, Daniel 2+ Not core repertoire Purchase
Emblem of Unity
C. L. Barnhouse
Richards, J. J.
arr. James Swearingen
3 Core repertoire Purchase
Emperata Overture
Wingert-Jones
Smith, Claude T. 4 Core repertoire Purchase
English Folk Song Suite
Boosey & Hawkes
Vaughan Williams, Ralph 4 Core repertoire Purchase
English Suite for Band
Daehn Publications
Golemo, Michael 3 Core repertoire Purchase
Equinox
Hal Leonard
Sweeney, Michael 2 Not core repertoire Purchase
Ere the World Began to Be
Daehn Publications
Stamp, Jack 2+ Core repertoire Purchase
Fa Una Canzona
Daehn Publications
Vecchi, Orazio
arr. Larry Daehn
2+ Core repertoire Purchase
Fanfare, Ode, and Festival
Manhattan Beach Music
Margolis, Bob 2+ Core repertoire Purchase
Fantasy on a Bell Carol
Carl Fischer, Inc.
Madden, Edward 4 Not core repertoire Purchase
Fantasy on American Sailing Songs
Boosey & Hawkes
Grundman, Clare 4 Core repertoire Purchase
Farnaby Prelude, A
Daehn Publications
Akey, Douglas 3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Flash in the Pan!
Hal Leonard Corporation
Saucedo, Richard 2 Not core repertoire Purchase
Flourish for Wind Band
Boosey and Hawkes
Vaughan-Williams, Ralph 3 Core repertoire Purchase
Footlifter, The
Carl Fischer, Inc.
Fillmore, Henry 3 Core repertoire Purchase
Fortress
Manhattan Beach Music
Ticheli, Frank 4 Core repertoire Purchase
Forward March!
Hal Leonard
Murtha, Paul 1.5 Core repertoire Purchase
Garlandstone
Alfred Publishing Company
Root, Thomas 2+ Not core repertoire Purchase
Glengary Hills
Lorenz Corporation
Nelson, David 3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Halcyon Hearts
katahjcopleymusic.com
Copley, Katahj 3 Not core repertoire
Havener Fanfare
Kjos Music Company
Boysen, Andrew 3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Hosts of Freedom
C. L. Barnhouse
King, Karl
arr. John P. Paynter
3 Core repertoire Purchase
Howls and Hymns
Viet Cuong Music
Cuong, Viet 3 Core repertoire Purchase
Huayno
victorianovalencia.com
Valencia, Victoriano 2 Core repertoire
Imaginarium
Grand Mesa Music
Standridge, Randall 3 Not core repertoire
Inglesina
Wingert Jones
Delle Cese, Davide
arr. John Bourgeois
4 Core repertoire Purchase
Introduction and Rondo
Queenwood/Kjos
Akey, Douglas 3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Iowa Band Law
C. L. Barnhouse
King, Karl 3 Core repertoire Purchase
Irish Rhapsody, An
Boosey and Hawkes
Grundman, Clare 3+ Core repertoire Purchase
Japanese Pictures
Carl Fischer
Mixon, Kevin 2 Not core repertoire Purchase
Jester Dance
FJH
Rogers, Mekel 1 Not core repertoire Purchase
Joy Fantastique
manuscript
Akey, Douglas 3 Not core repertoire
Kentucky 1800
Boosey & Hawkes
Grundman, Clare 2 Core repertoire Purchase
King Across the Water, The
G&M Brand
Fraser, Bruce 3+ Not core repertoire Purchase
King’s Feast, The
Grand Mesa Music
various
arr. Ken Singleton
1+ Core repertoire Purchase
Korean Folk Rhapsody
Hal Leonard Corporation
Folk Song
arr. James Curnow
2 Not core repertoire Purchase
Little Suite for Band
Boosey and Hawkes
Grundman, Clare 2 Core repertoire Purchase
Longford Legend, A
Alfred Publishing Co.
Sheldon, Robert 4 Core repertoire Purchase
Lydian Lullaby
Alfred Publishing Co.
Sheldon, Robert 1 Core repertoire Purchase
Machine Awakes, The
Steve Bryant
Bryant, Steven 2 Not core repertoire Purchase
Majestica
FJH
Balmages, Brian 1+ Not core repertoire Purchase
March Ahead
Alfred Publishing Co.
Feldstein, Sandy & O'Reilly, John 1 Not core repertoire Purchase
Mass from La Fiesta Mexicana
Alfred Publishing Company
Reed, H. Owen 3+ Core repertoire Purchase
Melodious Thunk
Bent Space Music
Biedenbender, David 3 Core repertoire Purchase
Men of Ohio
Carl Fischer/BandMusicPDF.org
Fillmore, Henry 3 Core repertoire Purchase
Midnight Mission
FJH
Balmages, Brian 1 Core repertoire Purchase
Midnight Sky
FJH
Balmages, Brian 1 Core repertoire Purchase
Music for Queen Mary
Grand Mesa Music
Purcell, Henry
arr. Robert Garofalo
2 Core repertoire Purchase
Music from Les Miserables
Hal Leonard Corporation
Schoenberg
arr. Johnnie Vinson
3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Music from Wicked
Hal Leonard
Schwartz, Stephen
arr. Michael Sweeney
3- Not core repertoire Purchase
Night Fury
Carl Fischer, Inc.
Chambers, Carol Brittin 1 Core repertoire Purchase
Nostalgia in the Air
Kelijah Dunton Music
Dunton, Kelijah 2 Not core repertoire Purchase
Nottingham Castle
Daehn Publications
Daehn, Larry 1 Not core repertoire Purchase
Novo Lenio
Wingert-Jones
Hazo, Samuel 3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Olympic Fanfare and Theme
Hal Leonard Corporation
Williams, John
arr. James Curnow
3+ Not core repertoire Purchase
Orange Bowl
Carl Fischer, Inc.
Fillmore, Henry 3 Core repertoire Purchase
Our Kingsland Spring
Hal Leonard
Hazo, Samuel 2 Not core repertoire Purchase
Overture for Winds
Bourne Company
Carter, Charles 3 Core repertoire Purchase
Overture in Bb
RBC Publications
Giovannini, Ceasar
arr. Wayne Robinson
4 Core repertoire Purchase
Pageant
Carl Fischer, Inc.
Persichetti, Vincent 4 Core repertoire Purchase
Parade of the Wooden Warriors
G & M Brand
Gorb, Adam 3+ Core repertoire Purchase
Passacaglia
manuscript
Collins-Dowden, Michael 1+ Core repertoire
Peace Song
Bourne Company
Broege, Timothy 3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Peacemaker
C. L. Barnhouse
King, Karl
arr. James Swearingen
3 Core repertoire Purchase
Peregrin (A Traveler’s Tale)
Queenwood/Kjos
Akey, Douglas 3- Not core repertoire Purchase
Pirates
Queenwood/Kjos
Akey, Douglas 3+ Not core repertoire Purchase
Pirates of the Caribbean (Soundtrack Highlights)
Hal Leonard Corporation
Badelt, Klaus
arr. Ted Ricketts
3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Place in Time, A
Kelijah Dunton Music
Dunton, Kelijah 3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Polka from Schwanda the Bagpiper
Associated Music Publishers
Weinberger, Jaromir
arr. Glenn C. Bainum
4 Core repertoire Purchase
Polly Oliver
Neil A. Kjos Music Co.
Root, Thomas 3- Not core repertoire Purchase
Portrait of a Clown
Manhattan Beach Music
Ticheli, Frank 2 Core repertoire Purchase
Praeludium
DeStefanoMusic.com
Buxtehude, Dietrich
arr. Chip De Stefano
4 Core repertoire Purchase
Prelude and Fugue in Bb Major
Warner Brothers Pub.
Bach, J. S.
arr. Roland Moehlmann
3 Core repertoire Purchase
Prelude and Fugue in D minor
Alfred Publishing Co.
Bach, J. S.
arr. Roland Moehlmann
3 Core repertoire Purchase
Prelude, Siciliano and Rondo
Carl Fischer, Inc.
Arnold, Malcolm
arr. John P. Paynter
4 Core repertoire Purchase
Prestissimo
C. L. Barnhouse
King, Karl 3- Core repertoire Purchase
Pride of the Wolverines
Warner Brothers Pub.
Sousa, John Phillip
arr. Fredreick Fennell
4 Core repertoire Purchase
Primal
Carl Fischer
O'Loughlin, Sean 2 Not core repertoire Purchase
Promise of Living, The
Boosey and Hawkes
Copland, Aaron
arr. James Curnow
4 Core repertoire Purchase
Prospect
Bourne Company
La Plante, Pierre 2+ Core repertoire Purchase
Psalm 42
Boosey and Hawkes
Hazo, Samuel 2 Core repertoire Purchase
Rainbow Connection, The
Hal Leonard Corporation
Williams, Paul
arr. John Moss
2 Not core repertoire Purchase
Raspa
victorianovalencia.com
Valencia, Victoriano 2 Core repertoire
Renaissance Festival, A
Grand Mesa Music
Gervaise, Claude
arr. Ken Singleton
3 Core repertoire Purchase
Renaissance Revel, A
Grand Mesa Music
Susato, Teilman
arr. Ken Singleton
2+ Core repertoire Purchase
Rippling Watercolors
FJH Music Company
Balmages, Brian 2 Core repertoire
Rough Riders
Alfred Publishing Company
King, Karl
arr. James Swearington
3 Core repertoire Purchase
Royal Procession
manuscript
Collins-Dowden, Michael 1 Core repertoire
Sailor’s Odyssey, A
Grand Mesa Music
Bobrowitz, David 2+ Not core repertoire Purchase
Salvation is Created
Neil A. Kjos Music Company
Tschesnokoff, Pavel
arr. Bruce Houseknecht
3+ Core repertoire Purchase
Sarabanda and Gavotta
Rubank, Inc.
Corelli, Arcangelo
arr. Johnson
2+ Core repertoire Purchase
Sea Shanty Variations
FJH
Loest, Timothy 1 Not core repertoire Purchase
Second Prelude
New World Music Corp.
Gershwin, George
arr. John Krance
3+ Core repertoire Purchase
Sesame Street Theme
Hal Leonard Corporation
Raposo, Joe
arr. Paul Murtha
2 Not core repertoire Purchase
Shaker Hymn, A
Alfred Publishing Company
O'Reilly, John 1 Not core repertoire Purchase
Shenandoah
Manhattan Beach Music
Ticheli, Frank 3+ Core repertoire Purchase
Shepherd’s Hey
FJH
Grainger, Percy
arr. Chip De Stefano
1 Core repertoire Purchase
Simple Gifts
Manhattan Beach Music
Ticheli, Frank 3+ Core repertoire Purchase
Simple Song, A
Hal Leonard Corporation
Bernstein, Leonard
arr. Michael Sweeney
3 Core repertoire Purchase
Sinfonia XIX
Boosey and Hawkes
Broege, Timothy 3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Slavonic Folk Suite
Hal Leonard Corporation
Reed, Alfred 3 Core repertoire Purchase
Softly Speaks the Night
Carl Fischer, Inc.
Chambers, Carol Brittin 1.5 Not core repertoire Purchase
Song for Friends, A
Daehn Publications
Daehn, Larry 1 Not core repertoire Purchase
Song for the Winter Moon
Grand Mesa Music
Cummings, Walter 1 Not core repertoire Purchase
Spirit!
Queenwood/Kjos
Akey, Douglas 3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Spoon River
G. Schirmer, Inc
Grainger, Percy Aldridge
arr. Glenn Cliffe Bainum
4 Core repertoire Purchase
Star Spangled Banner
Luverne Publications
Key, Francis Scott
arr. John Kinyon
2 Not core repertoire
Starsplitter Fanfare
FJH
Balmages, Brian 1 Not core repertoire Purchase
Stony Creek March
Queenwood/Kjos
McGinty, Anne 1 Not core repertoire Purchase
Suite from Bohemia
E. C. Kerby
Nelhybel, Vaclav 2 Core repertoire Purchase
Suite on Greek Love Songs
Molenaar Editions
van Lijnschooten, Henk 4 Core repertoire Purchase
Summer Dances
FJH
Balmages, Brian 4 Not core repertoire Purchase
Sunrise
Willscore Publications
Will, Andrew 1 Not core repertoire Purchase
Symphonic Dance #3 – “Fiesta”
Alfred Publishing Company
Williams, Clifton 4 Core repertoire Purchase
Symphony No. 4
Neil A. Kjos Music Company
Boysen, Andrew 3 Core repertoire Purchase
Tales of the Emerald Isle
Hal Leonard Corporation
Akey, Douglas 3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Tallis Prelude, A
Queenwood/Kjos
Akey, Douglas 3- Not core repertoire Purchase
Teleportation
FJH
Loest, Timothy 1 Core repertoire Purchase
Themes from Green Bushes
Daehn Publications
Grainger, Percy
arr. Larry Daehn
4 Core repertoire Purchase
This Old Man
Luverne Publications
Traditional
arr. Peter Reynolds
2 Not core repertoire Purchase
Three Ayres from Gloucester
Shawnee Press
Stuart, Hugh 3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Thunderer, The
Carl Fischer Music
Sousa, John Phillip 3 Core repertoire Purchase
To Create a Voice
Carl Fischer, Inc.
Chambers, Carol Brittin 3 Core repertoire Purchase
Torch of Liberty
C. L. Barnhouse
King, Karl
arr. James Swearingen
3 Core repertoire Purchase
Touch of Baroque, A
Alfred Publishing Co.
Feldstein, Sandy & O'Reilly, John 1 Not core repertoire Purchase
Tricycle
Neil A. Kjos Music Company
Boysen, Andrew 3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Triumphant Fanfare
Hal Leonard Corporation
Saucedo, Richard 3 Not core repertoire Purchase
Two British Folk Songs
Hal Leonard
Del Borgo, Elliot 2 Core repertoire Purchase
Undertow
Ostimusic
Mackey, John 3+ Not core repertoire Purchase
Unraveling
Neil A. Kjos Music Company
Boysen, Andrew 3 Core repertoire Purchase
Variation Overture
Ludwig Music Company
Williams, Clifton 3- Core repertoire Purchase
Variations on a Korean Folk Song
Boosey and Hawkes
Chance, John Barnes 4 Core repertoire Purchase
Variations on Scarborough Fair
Hal Leonard
Custer, Calvin 4 Core repertoire Purchase
Voyaguers, The
Daehn Publications
La Plante, Pierre 3 Core repertoire Purchase
West Highlands Sojourn
Alfred Publishing Company
Sheldon, Robert 3 Core repertoire Purchase
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Carl Fischer?
Traditional
arr. Frank Erickson
3 Not core repertoire
When the Stars Began to Fall
TRN
Allen, Fred 2+ Not core repertoire Purchase
Whip and Spur
TRN Music, Inc.
Allen, Thomas
arr. Ray Cramer
4 Core repertoire Purchase
Wild Dance
Grand Mesa Music
Akey, Douglas 4 Not core repertoire Purchase
Wolsey’s Wilde
Grand Mesa Music
Byrd, William
arr. Doug Hartzell
2 Not core repertoire Purchase
Ye Banks and Braes O’ Bonnie Doon
Hal Leonard
Traditional
arr. Michael Sweeney
1 Core repertoire Purchase