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4017176
October
4017176
4017176
4017176
Details
Score and Parts Concert Band (Score & Parts) - Grade 3
SKU: HL.4001888
Composed by Eric Whitacre. Eric Whitacre Concert Band. Concert. Duration 360 seconds. Hal Leonard #4001888. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.4001888).UPC: 073999309911. 9.0x12.0x0.609 inches.
“October” began at a restaurant in Chicago, when I was first introduced to Brian Anderson. Brian, a high school band director from Fremont, Nebraska, knew my work and wanted to commission me, but couldn't find the finances. If I remember correctly I didn't immediately hear back from him, and I just assumed the gig would never materialize. About a year later I get this phone call from him and he says that he has put together a commissioning consortium of 30 high school bands from Nebraska. 30 bands! I've dealt with institutional bureaucracy for a while now and I can't possibly imagine how he brought all of those people together, let alone get them to agree on a commission. Writing a 'grade three' work was an entirely different challenge. It's easy to write your way out of a difficult corner with flashy, virtuosic material, but with 'easier' music your solutions must be simple, elegant, and functional. I worked hard to create a piece that could be successfully performed by all of the high schools in the consortium, yet never compromised its musical integrity. Frankly, writing 'easy' music is one of the hardest things I've ever done.
- October
Ratings + Reviews
Based on 6 Reviews
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Anonymous
December 16, 2025
Excellent for Developing Ensemble Musicianship
As a band director, 'October' is a fantastic Grade 3 piece for developing ensembles. Whitacre's thoughtful orchestration provides clear, elegant lines that help students develop rhythm, articulation, and ensemble blend without overwhelming technical demands. The Hal Leonard engraving is always clear, aiding sight-reading. It's truly a piece students can grow into emotionally and musically, perfect for school and community bands.
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Anonymous
December 16, 2025
A Beautiful, Reliable Concert Piece
Eric Whitacre's 'October' is a solid choice for any intermediate concert band performance. The Grade 3 difficulty is accurately rated, offering a musically rich experience that's well-within reach for most ensembles. The score and parts are well-laid out for easy reading, minimizing page turn issues. Whitacre's signature emotional sound shines through, making it a reliable and resonant addition to any concert program.
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Anonymous
November 01, 2015
Such a gorgeous piece.
When I first heard this song I was a mere 9th grader; new to the adventures that go hand in hand with being in a high school band program. This piece is so gorgeous, with it's wide range of emotional ticks and colorful balance, especially for euphonium players... Many years later, I am a high school senior and this song has definitely become my anthem for the past four years that I have spent in a high school band and all that I can really conclude is that if you are looking for a piece that your students will grow emotionally attached to, this is definitely one worth considering.
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Adam L.
September 07, 2014
wonderful
I love playing this song but the students have to be able to turn musical notes on a page into emotions & feelings. Otherwise, the character and meaning of the song will be lost.
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Anonymous
June 11, 2012
October
October is a sensational piece of music that captures the scenes of the gorgeous autumn month of October. Everything from the oboe solo in the opening bars to the climatic peaks falling to peaceful pianissimos makes this piece worth playing. I would certainly recommend this piece to any and all concert bands.
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T.P>
December 13, 2011
beautiful
This is truly a great piece. My high school band will be playing it this spring. I'm lucky to gave such a great concert band that can play a song like this with outstanding solos.
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