ALBERTA BAND ASSOCIATION
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Syllabus

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2025 ABA Syllabus

 The Alberta Band Association produces a syllabus each year which contains recommended, appropriate works listed by skill level. The ABA Syllabus is adopted by festivals throughout the province and provides band directors with guidance as to quality literature for their students to perform.

In addition to the syllabus, the Alberta Band Association is pleased to offer a list of Alberta Band Association recommended marches.  This downloadable resource guide is for the director’s use when planning festival and concert performances and directors are encouraged to select Marches to use as one of their contrasting selections at the Festival of Bands.
Download the ABA List of Recommended Marches
*the recommended marches do no meet the requirement for an ABA Syllabus piece unless specifically listed on the current year's syllabus

​Festival Literature
All bands will prepare THREE selections at their playing level, (i.e. 1 – 6), in one of five categories:
  • ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (school Grade 1 – 6)
  • JUNIOR SCHOOL (school Grade 7 – 9)
  • SENIOR SCHOOL (school Grade 10 – 12)
  • JUNIOR COMMUNITY (less than 3 years playing experience)
  • SENIOR COMMUNITY (3 years playing experience or higher)
A band may enter only one class and each band will perform three selections.  One selection MUST BE selected from the ABA Syllabus  and the other two should be of a contrasting style.  A march is recommended and can be selected from the ABA List of Recommended Marches. Failure to meet these requirements will result in “Comments Only."
*Pop selections are not permitted.
​

We also keep a record of all of the repertoire performed at the Festival of Bands each year and make that list available.

Lastly, the Syllabus is listed below with previous years Syllabi available for download at the bottom of the page. 
Download the 2025 Syllabus

The 2025 Alberta Band Association Syllabus
*indicates pieces appropriate for small ensembles
+winner of the Howard Cable Prize for composition

Grade 1A (First Year Players Only)
Guardians
Expedition
​African Folk Trilogy
Farwell at Dawn
Starlit Night
Three Faces of Kilomanjaro
*All Ye Young Sailors
*Chorale and Canon
*Court Festival
Nottingham Castle
Sandy Bay March


​Grade One (1+ Years on Instrument)
Prelude and Celebration
After the Rain
​Irish Tune from County Derry
March from Fist Suite
In Times of Turbulence
Lincolnshire Posy (Two Movements)
The Forge
Dance Slav
Whirlwind
Spirit of the Stallion
At the Water's Edge
Marzo Zingaro
Prehistoric Suite


Grade Two 
The Bonsai Tree
Blessing Wind
​Rippling Watercolors
Evergreen Escapades
Dominion
The Grid
Kaalin's Flight
 Ancient Flower
Southampton March
Byzantine Dances
Lisbon (from Lincolnshire Posy)
Eagle Song
Avinu Malkeinu
Ancient Voices
Sketches of Canada
Early English Suite

 
Grade Three 
+Cape Breton Skies
​Joy Revisited
Raven (The Trickster)
​Sheltering Sky
Three Ayres from Gloucester
The Quest
Halcyon Hearts
*Rocketship
Haunted Carousel
Pop!
Montreal Citadel
Donkey Riding
Chasing Sunlight
Fanfare, Ode, and Festival
A Hymn for Band

​Grade Four 
​Haven
Perthshire Majesty
​An Irish Rhapsody
Courtly Airs and Dances
Pedal to the Medal
Centennium
El Torico de la Cuerda
March Bou Shu
All the Pretty Little Horses
Loch Lomond
The Witch and the Saint
A Mother of a Revolution!
Bayou Breakdown
Elegy for Albinoni
Molly's Sweet
Persian Dance No. 2
Toward the Bright Future
Dusk


Composer/Arranger
Adrian Sims
Ryan Meeboer
​Anne McGinty
Bruce w. Tippette
James Swearingen
​Robert W Smith
Pierre la Plante
Anne McGinty
Bruce Pearson
Larry Daehn
Brian West


Composer/Arranger
Jonathan Dagenais
Matt Neufeld
​Paul Cook
Holst arr. Story
Robert W. Smith
Grainger, arr. Michael Ryan
Christina Huss
Jack Wilds
Jodie Blackshaw
Brian Balmages
Rob Romeyn
Randall Strandridge
Paul Jennings


​Composer/Arranger
Julie Giroux
Yukiko Nishimura
​Brian Balmages
Adrian Sims
Randall Standridge
Adrian SIms
Ryan Meeboer
Yukiko Nishimura
Robert Sheldon
Carol Britten Chambers
Arr. Michael Sweeney
Bob Baker/Robert Buckley
Arr. Vince Gassi
Michael Sweeney
arr. Michael Story
arr. Finlayson


Composer/Arranger
Griffin Hook
​Frank Ticheli
Robert Buckley/Bob Baker
​John Mackey
Hugh M. Stuart
Patrick Glenn Harper
Katahj Copley
Kevin Day
Erika Svanoe
Tawnie Olsen
Norman Audoire trans. K. Horner
Donald Coakley
Cait Nishimura
Bob Margolis
Hugh M. Stuart

Composer/Arranger​
Adrian Sims
Samuel Hazo
​Clare Grundman
Ron Nelson
David R. Gillingham
Brian Balmages
Luis Serrano Alarcon
Satoshi Yagiswa
Andrew Boysen Jr.
Frank Ticheli
Steven Reineke
Omar Thomas
Brant Karrick
Shelley Hanson
Arr. George Rowe
Amir Molookpour
Naoya Wada
Steven Bryant


Publisher
Makemusic
Eighth Note
​Queenwood
Alfred
Barnhouse
Belwin
Daehn
Queenwood
Kjos
Daehn
Brolga


Publisher
Eighth Note
Randall Standridge
​Belwin
Alfred
Barnhouse
Belwin
Excelcia
FJH
Manhattan Beach
FJH
Barnhouse
Grande Mesa
Hal Leonard


Publisher
Musica Propria
Alfred
​FJH
FJH
Randall Standridge
FJH
Eighth Note
Carl Fischer
Alfred
Excelsia
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Alfred
Hal Leonard
Belwin
Boosey &Hawkes


Publisher 
​Self-Published
Manhattan Beach
Hal Leonard
​Osti/Mackey
Hal Leonard
Carl Fischer
Murphy Music Press
Murphy Music Press
Alfred
Bandquest
C. Alan
Eighth Note
Cait Nishimura
Manhattan Beach
Shawnee Press

Publisher ​ 
FJH
Boosey and Hawkes
​Boosey and Hawkes
Ludwig Masters
C. Alan
FJH
Piles Editorial de Musica
De Haske
Alfred
Manhattan Beach
Barnhouse
Self-Published
Alfred
Windependence
Grand Mesa
Hafabra
Grand Mesa
Hal Leonard

Grade 5
Own selections comprising 20 minutes of music (exclusive of time between selections); please provide three scores for the adjudicators

Grade 6
Own selections comprising 20 minutes of music (exclusive of time between selections); please provide three scores for the adjudicators
In addition to the current syllabus, we have provided several of the past syllabi for your use in finding suitable literature for your band.  
2024 Syllabus
2023 Syllabus

2022 Syllabus
2020 Syllabus
2019 Syllabus
2018 Syllabus
2017 Syllabus
2016 Syllabus
2015 Syllabus
2014 Syllabus
2013 Syllabus
2012 Syllabus
2011 Syllabus
2010 Syllabus
2009 Syllabus
2008 Syllabus
2007 Syllabus
2006 Syllabus
2005 Syllabus
2004 Syllabus
2003 Syllabus
2002 Syllabus

​

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15907 100A Ave NW
Edmonton, AB T5P 0L7

Email: [email protected]
Phone: (780) 800-0482
Toll Free: (877) 687-4239
Fax: (780) 488-6403

Executive Director, Nathan Ouellette x101
[email protected]

Festival Coordinator, Joyce Howdle 
[email protected]

Operations Manager, Kimberley Denis
[email protected]

Library Assistant
[email protected]
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Description of the Organization
    • Purpose, Priorities and Principles
    • Get Involved
    • Contact
  • Membership
    • Member Types
    • Applications and Renewals
  • Resources
    • COVID-19 Studies and Re-Launch Documents
    • Advocacy Tools
    • Provincial Syllabus
    • Lending Library
    • Teaching Resources
    • Run For Music
  • Programs
    • ABA Awards
    • Provincial Honour Bands >
      • Alberta Wind Symphony >
        • Nomination Process
        • Selection Procedures
        • Recommended Timeline
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • Guest Conductor
        • Past Repertoire
      • Alberta Jazz Ensemble >
        • Audition Process
        • Guest Director
        • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Junior Honour Bands >
        • Nomination Process
        • Selection Procedures
        • Timeline
        • Guest Conductors
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • Accommodations
    • Festival of Bands >
      • Provincial Syllabus
      • Repertoire Lists
      • Registration & Fees
      • Festival Regulations and Operations
      • Schedule
      • Adjudicators
      • Festival Awards
      • Preparing for a Festival
  • Alberta Band Summit
    • Registration
    • Sessions
  • Connections
    • Affiliates
    • Job Board
    • Mike Achtymichuk Scholarship
    • Professional Development
    • Supporters