Chasing Mercury

Mercury, known as the messenger of the gods, is easily identified by his unique winged shoes (talaria) and hat (petasos). Chasing Mercury depicts exactly that: a playful chase of the winged messenger. By whom? It is up to the young musicians who have the opportunity to bring this work to life. Those who are familiar with Gustav Holst's Mercury will notice the opening motif chasing two themes of Holst's around the rest of the work -giving Chasing Mercury a second meaning. This fun and playful piece is certain to entertain and delight.

Cheeseburger Cha-Cha-Cha

Cheeseburger Cha-Cha-Cha is a fun and moderately easy piece for a young band that can help students become confident performing eighth-note syncopations. Easy ranges make the music accessible, and cues are provided in bass lines for optional rests from playing. Lively bongos, maracas, and cowbell make this musical selection a cha-cha-cha good time!

Cherokee Morning

Cherry Tree

This beautiful ballad was composed to capture the wondrous feeling of cherry blossoms. It also relays elation or hope for a brightening future. The lyrical piece helps players learn the importance of inner melodies, a lighter playing style, staccato figures, and balancing of long phrases. A contrasting middle section includes tempo variations and a delicate balance of harmonic patterns. A return to the calm opening theme ends the composition on a hopeful note. This lovely work will challenge, but also reward your performers.

Chester - William Billings

The famous song by William Billings from the American Revolution has been the basis of many settings. In this new arrangement by Bill Calhoun, beginning students get to mix march-like rhythms with a lush and full chorale setting of the song. Perfect to showcase your beginners at any festival or as a patriotic favorite.

Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)

Chips and Salsa

This piece is pure fun for the young band. Latin infused rhythms and instruments drive this piece forward with catching melodic figures and licks that the students will love to play. Shake up a concert program with some "Chips and Salsa."

Chips, and Salsa Too

Written in an upbeat Latin rhythmic form, Chips, and Salsa, Too begins with percussion under a nice rhythmic motif in the winds. A tuneful minor melody in the clarinets, well below the break, continues above this Latin groove after the intro. The tubas (and cross-cued for euphoniums and bass clarinets) and flutes have a melody together, and the rest of the band is gradually layered in the mix until everybody is contributing to the mix. Latin rhythms, featured percussion, and lots of nice melodies for the winds makes this a piece your students and audiences will love!

Chisholm Trail

Chisholm Trail has a truly American quality, containing hints of music from the mountains, which evoke the rugged terrain and the pioneering spirit that were so important to the growth of this great nation. Carl Strommen is most at home in this style and has great success with it... in fact, this may be his best one yet! It's challenging, but energetic and fun to play. Students will enjoy it and audiences will love to hear it. This is a winner!

Chorale and Alleluia

This well-known, impressive work by Howard Hanson is one of the great cornerstones of the literature for the modern concert band.