Forging ahead with new band titles from favorite veteran composers as well as talented newcomers, Excelcia Music Publishing introduces its 2020 Concert Band music, along with an innovative digital catalog for educators to use from home to listen, plan and select new music for when their ensembles can come back together. Recognizing these challenging times for music education, the publisher’s state-of-the-art digital catalog provides unprecedented assistance to educators with features like pop-up Score Videos and composer insights as well as free professional recordings on all major streaming platforms.
“Music education is critical, and we are grateful to the educators who are working tirelessly to impart a passion for music.” said Excelcia Music Publishing president, Larry Clark. “I am proud that we are offering this high-quality collection of new concert band pieces. And our new digital catalog will make it even easier for directors to experience and choose our new music as they plan for the future.”
“I personally am inspired by this year’s release because I think it is one of the most ‘musical’ and expressive catalogs of music I have seen released in recent years,” explains instrumental editor Tyler Arcari. “Every grade level has music that hits home with either its focus or musical content and that kind of meaningful musical experience is something that directors are going to love teaching, and students are going to carry with them for a lifetime.”
Following its successful 2019 release, the publisher’s 2020 Concert Band release includes pieces from composers Amy Riebs Mills, Brooke Pierson, Bruce W. Tippette, Carl Strommen, Carol Brittin Chambers, Chris Ferguson, Chris Thompson, David Samuel, Ed Kiefer, Gene Milford, Jason K. Nitsch, Jason Taurins, John M. Pasternak, Jon Bubbett, Laura Estes, Larry Clark, Matthew R. Putnam, Michael J. Miller, Peter Sciaino, Peter Terry, R. Alan Carter, Robert Thurston, Ruth Brittin, Sean O’Loughlin, Steve Parsons, Tyler Arcari, Valerie Laney-Rowe and Yukiko Nishimura.
Each score, and its accompanying parts, are meticulously-edited and beautifully set for ease of reading and include unique features to help facilitate efficient rehearsals. Published in Excelcia Music Publishing’s signature color-coded series, the concert band music follows a consistent six-part grading system: Prelude (grade .5), Da Capo (grade 1), Harmony (grade 1.5), Intermezzo (grade 2 to 2.5), Rhapsody (grade 3 to 3.5) and Maestro (grade 4 and up). The professional recordings of each piece, by The Trade Winds Recording Ensemble, conducted by Daniel Schmidt, are available on all streaming platforms and can be used as a tool with students for remote learning and in the classroom.
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