March Of The Kings

We have always enjoyed this old French carol. It comes from the Provence region of southern France, and dates back to the 13th century. We have created a very versatile setting that will let you mix and match all sorts of instruments, including kazoos, Boomwhackers®, small percussion, and, if you prefer, voices. We have included optional lyrics, though as you will hear on the recording, we chose to use kazoos. After all, how often do you get to use kazoos seriously? You can add or subtract any of the parts as you like, and please adapt it to the instruments you have. The Boomwhackers® part, for instance, would work great with handbells, or any similar set of bell-type instruments. The small "finger cymbal" part would also sound great with a crotale or a small triangle.

To accompany your grand performance, we give you a powerful orchestral arrangement. It is full of pomp and richly orchestrated brass. (Be sure to let your students listen to just the background tracks - they can provide a good listening lesson, analyzing the instruments being played, the dynamic contrasts, and the form of the work.)

Musicality and Fun - There are a couple of important things that will aid your performance. The first is performing dotted eighth/sixteenth note figures correctly. Beyond sharing the way our players perform it, demonstrate to your performers the difference between eighth notes, triplets (or eighth notes in 6/8), and the crisply divided execution of the dotted eighth/sixteenth figures in the work.

Also, be sure to emphasize that even when one is playing kazoos, one should perform musically, including playing the dynamic changes featured in the music. Have your players listen to the tracks as an example, then have them play short phrases first loud, then medium, then soft. As we have discovered, the control that younger players need to exert to play kazoos softly is a true teaching moment.

Make the most of the round that begins at bar 27. As a matter of fact, during the short interlude before this section have your performers physically divide into two groups slightly facing each other. It will add to the counterpoint of the ending. Of course, if this seems to be too much, let everyone just play the top line.

In this issue, you will find a reduced score that includes many of the orchestral cues on a piano staff. Extracted student parts are also included in this issue. On our web site, you will find MP3s of isolated rehearsal parts for kazoo 1, kazoo 2, and a combination of both, as well as a PDF of the full size score. (See the box on page 82 for more details.)