band

band music

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This set contains a sampling of intermediate (Grade 1.5-2.5) concert band music by composer, Scott Watson. Most music is published by Alfred, with others by Barnhouse, Hal Leonard, and Wingert-Jones. Please visit www.scottwatsonmusic.com to learn more, or www.jwpepper.com to purchase.

Intermediate Band

I'm pleased to share these recordings of music I've written for release by Alfred and others recently.

Please visit www.scottwatsonmusic.com to learn more, or www.jwpepper.com to purchase.

Recent Releases

"Tu Ungane" (Come Together), by Scott Watson (Alfred Publications). Please visit www.scottwatsonmusic.com to learn more.

Tu Ungane

"Hercules vs. The Hydra," by Scott Watson (Alfred Publications). Please visit www.scottwatsonmusic.com to learn more.

The Greek hero, Hercules, was sentenced by the Gods to endure 12 seemingly impossible "labors" in order to redeem himself. Hercules vs. the Hydra portrays the second of these tests, his battle with a nine-headed water serpent with deadly venom and the ability to grow back two heads for every one cut off! The piece begins with the Hydra's half-step motive, which quickly builds and multiplies into the music of the epic fight. The blows of Hercules' club and sword, rhythmic accents in the music, land hard on the beast but to no avail. Hercules regroups to a slow, hopeful theme, encouraged as his nephew Iolaus shares the secret to defeating the Hydra. Hercules rejoins the contest with new resolve, reflected in the exciting merging of two of the piece's themes, which lead to a victorious climax! 

This Alfred Challenger Series piece was a 2013 J.W. Pepper "Editor's Choice" and is available in SmartMusic. 

Hercules vs. The Hydra

Jar Of Hearts (Cover)

John Williams movie adventures - Lenteconcert 2014

Inspired by the German Romantic poem by Goethe, this Grade 2.5 concert piece takes the listener on a father and son's spine-chilling horseback ride through a dark, misty forest - full of "Gothic" excitement!

Please visit www.scottwatsonmusic.com to learn more, or www.jwpepper.com to purchase.

Der Erlkonig

Please visit www.scottwatsonmusic.com to learn more, or www.jwpepper.com to purchase.

Secret Agent Sugar Plum

O Happy Day

This is my orchestration of Pictures at an Exibition by Mussorgsky. 

Pictures at an Exibition (Promenade)

Vocals/Piano/Recording/Production by me, in my bedroom!

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Hello - Adele

CAPTURING THE BLUE RIBAND (Alfred Challenger Series, Grade 1.5)

During the golden age of ocean travel, when increasingly faster and more luxurious steamships such as the Queen Mary, Lusitania, and United States sailed the seas, the Blue Riband was the coveted trophy bestowed on the vessel that clocked the fastest transatlantic time. Capturing the Blue Riband was both a demonstration of industrial strength and a source of national pride. 

Capturing the Blue Riband musically celebrates the excitement and sense of occasion experienced when traveling aboard these grand, early 20th century transatlantic liners. It’s energetic opening and closing sections evoke the exhilaration of taking to the sea in this historic race of prestige, while a contrasting section conveys the sense of grandeur and honor central to the era and the award.

For more information about the music of Scott Watson, visit:
www.scottwatsonmusic.com


Capturing the Blue Riband

Twenty Øne Piløts - Blurryface [Full Album]

Terracotta Warriors (Alfred Publications, Grade 2.5) was inspired by the extraordinary “spirit army” of clay statues - numbering more than 6,000 - created in the third century B.C. for the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, first emperor of China. This astounding array of armed sculptures was placed in the emperor’s tomb, along with hundreds of terracotta horses and chariots, to protect the emperor in the afterlife. The music begins with a brief, plaintive folk chant summoning the army from their centuries-old sleep. The faithful warriors respond, coming to life to protect their emperor with musical representations of uniform marching and weapons display. Terracotta Warriors captures the legend and grandeur of the Qin dynasty in this striking and unique piece for band. 

Terracotta Warriors was commissioned by the Albemarle County (Virginia) Middle School Honors Band, premiered November 2016.  Alfred Young Symphonic Series and 2017 J.W. Pepper Editor's Choice.

To learn more, visit www.scottwatsonmusic.com.

Terracotta Warriors

See Amid the Winter’s Snow (Alfred Publications, Grade 2) is perhaps the best-know carol by English organist, composer and teacher, Sir John Goss (1800-1880). The emotional scope of this lovely nativity hymn - from the cold, winter’s “dead of night” to the appearing of angels singing in “wondrous light” - is mirrored in the dynamics of Watson’s musical setting. 

See Amid the Winter’s Snow - with its quintessentially English melody, flowing inner voices, and sturdy bass lines - has it all and is the perfect “change of pace” piece for your winter program.

To learn more, please visit www.scottwatsonmusic.com.

See Amid The Winter's Snow

Secret Agent Sugar Plum (String Orchestra, Alfred Publications, Grade 2.5)
Have the cookies left out on Christmas Eve mysteriously vanished? Does it seem like the nutcracker and toy soldier figurines have moved by themselves overnight? Are you experiencing strange visions of holiday confections dancing in your head? There’s only one operative with the right skill set for holiday capers like these: Secret Agent Sugar Plum of the Holiday Sweets Division of WinterPol!

This clever holiday "mash up" arrangement for string orchestra and percussion fuses themes from Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" (from The Nutcracker) with classic spy music idioms, all set to a driving rock beat. Sure to be a player and audience favorite in your holiday concert!

To learn more, visit www.scottwatsonmusic.com.

2017-2018 Belwin and Highland-Etling Orchestra New Releases

Secret Agent Sugar Plum (String Orchestra, Percussion)

A Golden Legacy (Wingert-Jones, Grade 4.5) was commissioned by the Lehigh County (Pennsylvania) Bandmasters to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Lehigh County Honor Band Festival. The 50-year legacy mentioned in the title refers to the significant impact those band teachers had on the lives of their students all those years, passing the love of music from generation to generation. The legacy is golden because it marks a musical tradition held so dear.
 
The music for A Golden Legacy reflects both the joy and reverence many of us feel in our role as transmitters of cultural art, of the band tradition.  The piece alternates between two themes: one a fanfare that becomes a purposeful march, the other a chorale (or hymn tune) that undergoes several variations.  The last of these variations erupts in celebration with full woodwind scoring, brass fanfares, and exciting runs by the bells and chimes.

To learn more, please visit www.scottwatsonmusic.com

2017 Wingert-Jones Concert Band Final

A Golden Legacy

Carusi Middle School Jazz Band
Cherry Hill Public School District
Parry Barclay, Director of Bands
Recorded January, 2017 - C.H. West

Dance Big Un' Dance - Ralph Ford

'Migraine' by twenty | one | pilots from Vessel - available now on Fueled By Ramen.

three songs

Migraine

'Car Radio' by twenty | one | pilots from Vessel - available now on Fueled By Ramen.

Vessel

Car Radio

Oh Ms Believer - twenty one pilots

Scott Watson has composed for concert, radio, and theater and received recognition for his work from ASCAP, the American Composers Forum, the American Music Center and others.

Watson's music for band is published primarily by Alfred Publications, for whom he an exclusive composer for the Challenger Series. Other music for concert band is published by Wingert-Jones Publications, TRN, C. L. Barnhouse, Hal Leonard, Concert Works Unlimited (a division of Shawnee Press, now distributed by Hal Leonard), and Jon Ross Music. His string/orchestra music is published by Wingert-Jones Publications Publications, and his chamber music is published by Trillenium Music Company.

About Watson's music, The Instrumentalist says "outstanding...with beautiful melodies and interesting harmonies" (Mark Hosler, 2004), Percussive Notes says "written with supreme craft" (Cort McClaren, 1993), the Allentown Morning Call says "Watson exhibited a great deal of skill in managing the resources of the orchestra...a very well-crafted piece...he will very likely become a force to be reckoned with" (Philip A. Metzger, 2000), and PMEA News says "Watson skillfully transforms his zest for life into his own brand of unique musical exuberance. His scoring for winds, brass, and percussion is excellent" (Kenneth Laudermilch, 1998). His music for band has several times been named to Bandworld Top 100 and Japan Band Clinic Yamaha Recommends 100 Pieces for Band listings. Recent projects include Youth/Student Concert performances of his Aesop's Fables by the Allentown Band, with dance choreographed by Repertory Dance Theater, as well as commissions by MusicAlliance Honor Band Camp (Cleveland, Ohio) made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, Lehigh County (Pennsylvania) Bandmasters Association, Massachusetts Instrumental & Choral Conductors Association (Spring 2007, concert band and chorus); an American Composers Forum Continental Harmony project commission, Magic Valley, (2004, concert band); Figurations (for winds and percussion), commissioned by the West Chester University Wind Ensemble, Kenneth Laudermilch, Director; Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra, for the Temple University Symphony Orchestra, Luis Biava conductor and Terell Stafford, trumpet soloist; and Hymn and Declaration, commissioned by the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra, Donald Spieth, Director. Watson has been pleased and honored to serve as guest conductor and adjudicator at various band festivals as well.

Watson teaches instrumental and elective music in the Parkland School District (Allentown, PA), and serves as adjunct professor teaching music education/music technology courses for Villanova University, Cairn University, and Central Connecticut State University and Applied Composition for Valley Forge Christian College. His book, Using Technology to Unlock Musical Creativity, focuses on project-based, creative music learning facilitated by technology, and is published by Oxford University Press.

Secret Agent Sugar Plum

Dr. Scott Watson