I Dreamed a Dream
Composer(s):
Music by Claude-Michel Schonberg Lyrics by Alain Boublil, Jean-Marc Natel and Herbert Kretzmer Arranger: Michael Brown Publisher: Hal Leonard Length: ca.3:00 Audio
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Potential Challenges for a Young Ensemble
With only a few tricky passages, comprised mostly of repeated passages passed around the ensemble, this is a very accessible arrangement for middle school bands. With few exceptions everyone, at some point, plays the measures with greatest potential for frustration. This makes learning the lines much easier; everyone can play simultaneously and, once learned en mass, students should be comfortable even when their part is exposed. Playing the staccato, syncopated rhythms lightly, rather than short and clipped may take some explaining and demonstrating but should not prove a great obstacle. Ranges are moderate as well, lending more mental capacity for students to focus on the music rather than technique. There are some important horn and double reed lines but they are cued in the ensemble. Whatever the solo choice, playing this thick, lush music behind will be one of the greatest challenges. Phrasing needs to be quite long and is not always as clear as would be hoped in music for young bands; students will need to mark in breaths and make notes for some of these irregularities. Since the release of the movie, Les Miserables has become very popular, even among young students who of course think they have discovered this great "new" music all by themselves. As such, this is likely to be a hit – at least for a few years to come – with both students and audiences. Watch/listen to see how many of your students are singing or humming the melody after you rehearse this piece. |