CMP

Teaching Plan

Allie Cotton
A Song for Friends
Larry Daehn
Daehn Publications – Grade 1, 2:40 minutes

Broad Description
A Song for Friends is a concert band piece that was specifically written for middle school bands. Daehn shares in his program notes
that it is a fine piece of music for introducing and discussing melody, accompaniment, musical phrases, slurs, breath support, and
ABA form as it’s modest instrument ranges and simple phrases allow young players to work towards producing their finest tone
quality and playing as an ensemble. The piece begins with the melody in the clarinet, tenor saxophone, and French horn, this melody
repeats itself twice back-to-back. The countermelody is introduced in the flutes and trumpets, which is followed by another
restatement of the melody that leads into the climax of the piece marked by the key change from E-flat to B-flat. The piece ends with a
short five bar coda where the tempo slows, and the dynamics soften into two fermatas.

Composer Biography
Larry Daehn was born in 1939 in Rosendale, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin –
Oshkosh with his bachelor’s degree and earned his master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin – Platteville.
He taught choir and band in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms for 35 years in different schools
throughout Wisconsin. In 1988, he won that award of Outstanding Bandmaster from Phi Beta Mu, in which he is a
member of along with other organizations such as the Percy Grainger Society and American School Band
Directors. He directed the high school band in New Glarus, Wisconsin for 27 years and also earned many awards
throughout those years. In 1988, he created the Daehn Publications company that he still operates today.

Background Information
Daehn composed and published this piece especially for middle school bands in 1997. This piece has very limited technical demands
which allows for emphasis on quality tone production, melodic and accompaniment balance, phrasing, and musicality expressing
emotion. A Song for Friends requires young musicians to grow in their musical maturity as they are asked to play in a legato style,
maintain longer phrases, and be aware of the relationship between the melody and countermelody throughout. This piece is a tribute to
friendship as it as it encourages students to make beautiful music together.
Elements of Music
Measure Meter and Form Melody Rhythm Harmony Timbre Texture Expression
Tempo
Clarinet, Long notes, E-flat Major Warm, light Homophonic, Sweet and
1-16 3/4, 72 A tenor sax, 4 bar melody and tender
French horn phrases pedal notes
Flute, Quarter A-flat Major Warm, Polyphonic, Sweet and
trumpet, notes, focused flute/trumpet flowing
17-24 3/4, 72 B
bells moving against
notes clarinet
Clarinet, Long notes, E-flat Major Warm, Homophonic, Sweet and
25-32 3/4, 72 A tenor sax, 4 bar mellow melody and tender
French horn phrases pedal notes
Flute, Moving B-flat Major Strong, Polyphonic, Passionate
trumpet notes, less resonant, melody and flowing
33-48 3/4, 72 A long than full against
beginning of moving
A section quarter notes
Alto sax, Long notes, B-flat Major Warm, thin Homophonic, Relaxed,
49-53 3/4, 72 Coda trumpet fermatas melody and tender
pedal notes

The Heart Statement

The Heart of A Song for Friends is it’s stylistic demands it places on young performers to express emotions of comradely and
friendship through simple melodies and harmonies produced with their best quality tone.

Introducing the Piece

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Affective Outcome:

Strategies

Assessment

Skill Outcome:

Strategies

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Assessment

Knowledge Outcome:

Strategies

Assessment

Recommended Recordings
• Rutgers Wind Ensemble - https://youtu.be/H7GZimHkQNI
• 2009 District X All-District Honor Bands Alexandria, Virginia - https://youtu.be/UoeuOgJBerE

References
https://barnhouse.com/composer/larry-daehn/
https://www.windrep.org/Larry_Daehn
https://concertbandlit.weebly.com/a-song-for-friends.html
https://studyres.com/doc/7981958/song-for-friends-larry-d.-daehn-born-1939-

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https://www.jwpepper.com/A-Song-for-Friends/2389294.item#.YUkzwe9KjUp

Other Works for Winds by Composer

• British Isles Suite (1999)
• Country Wildflowers (1998)
• Nottingham Castle (1997)
• Pioneer Songs (2003)
• Remembrance (2014)

Glossary of Terms

Sang through, studied, and marked parts (check off as completed)

Piccolo X Cornets/Trumpets 1st Violins

X Flutes X Horns 2nd Violins
X Oboes X Trombones Violas
English Horn X Euphoniums Celli
X Bassoons X Tubas String Bass
Eb Clarinet Harp
X Clarinets Timpani
Alto Clarinets Snare Drum Sopranos
X Bass Clarinets X Mallet Percussion Altos
Contra Bass/Alto Clarinet X Remaining Percussion Tenors
X Saxophones Piano Basses

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