Reverential Skies Concert Band - Sheet Music

SKU: CF.BR13F

ISBN 9798299501674. UPC: 798408104368. 9x12 inches. Key: Bb major.

Reverential Skies reaches for new heights with triumphant fanfares, wistful lyrical passages, and majestic chorales, all centered around themes of gratitude and giving thanks. Set in Concert Bb, Eb and F major, every section of the band is featured in this Grade 2 work with great opportunities for teaching contrast, note shape, and articulation. The theme of thankfulness also engages players' hearts and minds to connect with the world around them and share appreciation for meaningful people and places.
In the summer of 2021, the Rocky Band Parents’ Association reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in writing a piece for two of their departing music educators, Kimberly Hastings and Mark Friesen.As a band teacher myself, I thought it would be a fitting tribute and that I would be thrilled to write it. Both teachers have won the Alberta Band Association’s Elkhorn Award and have won awards of Superior Performance for their ensembles in the ABA’s Festival of Bands, as well as countless other accolades.Kimberly Hastings taught at Pioneer School in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada for almost thirty years. She was the 2019 MusiCounts Teacher of the Year (presented annually and nationally) and when asked for an article about it, she stated: “I love the idea of all kids getting a chance to learn an instrument and I love the idea of being able to be involved in a music program that's not elitist. You don't have the so-called band kid in your program, but you have all kids in your program.”Mark Friesen was the Director of Bands at West Central High School for almost thirty years as well. He has been President of both the Alberta and Canadian Band Associations. When interviewed by Bandworld magazine about his contribution to music education in Alberta, he said: “I try to work to achieve musical excellence while making sure to put the person first – no amount of success is worth harming the confidence of students. No award is worth diminishing a student’s humanity or love of music.”Like many educators, they poured their hearts into their programs, took the students on music trips, held concerts, went to festivals, and moved young individuals with music in their daily rehearsals.They also both share many accolades in their fields; too many to list here, in fact. However, there were two element that really stuck out to me: They brought bands to both the London and Beijing Olympics. They brought bands to the Olympics – twice. The other is how much they each care about teaching kids music. They really value the individual students in their space, which is a powerful gift to the people in their community—young and old.As I accepted the commission for these two incredible educators at the end of their careers in their respective schools, I asked myself what the music should say to these individuals. What I kept coming back to is: Thank you. Thank you for investing in kids. Thank you for your contribution to the community. Thank you for giving yourselves to music.—Kenley Kristofferson.