Bright Angel Trail Concert Band - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1569415

If you’ve ventured to the Grand Canyon, Bright Angel Trail is an adventurous trek to Ha’a Gyoh - or the Havasupai Indian Garden, and possibly onto the beautiful Havasu Falls. The opening fanfare captures the grandeur and awe of stepping up to the South Rim for the first time. Looking over the edge at Bright Angel Trail, one sees the switchbacks throughout the journey. The piano (also covered by an edited vibes part not listed on the score) sets up the “switchbacks” in the melody with an intervallic representation. The melody is intended to be playful, yet challenging, signifying the journey. One really has to watch your step, plenty of places to trip!


When one finally reaches the Garden & Falls, there is a sense of accomplishment. Take a rest, experience the serenity and contemplative nature of the stunning beauty by which one is surrounded.

Then reality hits, it’s time to take the journey back up the trail!


I tried to capture as many of the facets of this trip, in music, as possible. The woodwind melodies weave around each other like bumping into folks on the trial. The trail itself hardly lets you get into any rhythm, it’s quirky, and just when you think you’re in a groove, there are an extra few steps (beats) you have to count before landing in the groove again. The brass gets just as much of a challenge with the french horns weaving around the trumpets and the low brass laying down the foundation.


Even though I believe this is a Grade 4+/-, my ultimate goal was to create a composition that sounds harder than it is. The instrumentation is full, however, if your group doesn’t have the full instrumentation, it was written to be played with many instruments missing. For example, if your group only has one bassoon, the 1st bassoon part is all that is necessary. If you don’t have a bassoon, it is predominantly covered in a baritone saxophone or bass clarinet. The lower parts can be left out and those parts are typically covered somewhere else. The alto solo is also covered in the oboe, and french horn. I tried to alleviate any range issues in the brass with lower option notes when necessary.


Overall, much like the trail, it’s a challenging journey but a tremendous triumph when the journey concludes! Enjoy, have fun, make music!


Shane!