Bells of Freedom (5-Part Flex)

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.

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.

Grade Level: 1.5
Copyright: 2021
Number of Players: Standard
Duration: 3:40

Listen to Recordings

Sample PDF

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