La Fiesta Mexicana, H. Owen Reed’s masterpiece, continues to be one of the most influential and beloved pieces in the band repertoire some half century after it was written. It’s been adapted for the marching field numerous times, but this arrangement aims to be different.

Commissioned by the Canyon High School Band, Mike Sheffield, Director of Bands, this show is dedicated to former Canyon Intermediate Band Director and friend to many, Steve Baird, who passed away in early 2011. Steve, an accomplished horn player, is celebrated in the thorough and memorable use of the horn throughout the original iteration, as well as this adaptation. His humor is on display during the second movement when the commissioning band staged a playful bull-fight on the field (the bull wins!). And the show closes reverently with the students singing the final plagal “Amen” from the “Mass” movement.

A labor of love, Mike, Jon Seale and I spent many hours collaborating on this project to put together a show that would both appeal to broad audiences and to the judging community alike. We know that Steve would be proud of the commissioning band’s season and would be honored to be memorialized in this way.

Winds and Front Ensemble Percussion by Eric Rath

Battery Score by Jon Seale

Price for Complete Score (Winds & Percussion): $1500

LICENSING INFORMATION: This show requires licensing. For information on licensing music, please email me.