We’re excited to introduce five brand-new Halloween works for your concert band. These pieces are designed to give your audience a good scare—without being scary at all for you or your band! Every year, we receive an increasing number of requests for Halloween-themed music, and some incredible composers and publishers have risen to the challenge. With thousands of new submissions pouring in each year, it’s impossible for a busy band director like you to preview even half of them. Fear not! Turn to our vaunted Editors’ Choice selections to find the best music for your needs. In this video, we’ll showcase some Editors’ Choice Halloween titles that are fun, challenging, educational—and in stock, ready to ship! If any of these titles catch your interest, the links below will help you get this music into your band’s hands right away!
Haunted Night
Fran Griffin – MakeMusic Publications
Shadows lengthen, birds fall silent, and the moonlight reveals ghostly images of a ballroom from long ago. This haunting work evokes images of dancers swirling around with malevolent grace as their cobweb gowns blend into the surrounding mist. A stunning work with the perfect balance of charm and chill!
Starts at :54
Parade Of The Mummies
Robert Buckley – Hal Leonard Corporation
Invite listeners to a fantastic procession of ancient mummies that come to life and parade through the streets in this whimsical and lively piece. Packed with plenty of variety, creepy effects, and sinister drama, this is a fun choice for any occasion – but of course, especially for Halloween!
Starts at 1:47
Pranks Of The Pesky Poltergeist
Timothy Loest – MakeMusic Publications
Experience the paranormal in this spine-tingling work with spooky sound effects, unexplained noises that interrupt frightful melodies, and even a hint of Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain and strains of Chopin’s Funeral March. Destined to be the hit of your fall or spring concert. Simply suspenseful, yet delightfully dreadful!
Starts at 2:42
Dancing Skeletons
Aaron McMichael – Carl Fischer LLC
Imagine walking through the graveyard at night and seeing three skeletons rising from the grave. Watch and listen as the skeletons do a nocturnal dance as the darkness surrounds them. The C minor theme begins in the low brass and low reeds as percussion, including wood block, represents the rattling bones of the dancing skeletons. Perfect for a spooky Halloween feature!
Starts at 3:45
March Of The Hobgoblins
Randall Standridge – Randall Standridge Music, LLC
Dance rhythms and creepy melodies combine in this new 6/8 concert march for young band! Inspired by the mischievous spirits of the British Isles, it paints a portrait of imps dancing and cavorting in a dark forest. Scored carefully to serve as an approachable introduction to compound meter, your performers and audiences will enjoy the catchy melodies, dark harmonies, and colorful scoring as every player gets the chance to shine!
Starts at 4:38
