John McAllister
Composer, Educator
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Adaptable Quintets

Classical Music
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All of the tunes below are based off of a quintet formation. You need five players (with optional percussion-typically snare, bass, and tambourine-feel free to ad lib as desired). These can be played with a huge variety of combinations. First, you have your standard quintet formations - brass quintet, sax quintet, woodwind quintet - but then you can mix and match as desired. These can all be played with a full band too! Only one trumpet...no problem...the saxes got you covered, or flutes, or basically whatever. Have fun!!

Ode to Joy - (very easy)

This is a simple arrangement of Beethoven's classic Ode to Joy. This would be great for young musicians' first journey into chamber music. It would also work well as a flex-band type piece for a full ensemble (utilizing the added percussion line). I'm a huge fan of the benefits of chamber music because of the educational value when it comes to teaching musicianship (pulse, blend, independence, etc). 
purchase on smp $5

Pomp & Circumstance - (easy)

It's graduation time!! Here's a straightforward arrangement of Elgar's famed processional. There's three variations passing the melody around about (bass voice doesn't get it though.. sorry.. somebody has to keep the graduates in time!). There's also an option percussion part so you can play this with a full concert band if needed. Each variation has a nice chord at the end so you can end the piece whenever needed. 

As much as a pain it can be sometimes.. I'm a HUGE proponent of live musicians playing for ceremonies like graduation. It can highlight performers and bring importance to what we (musicians!!) do!
purchase on smp $5
Rondo Alla Turca - M/ME
Mozart is the GOAT.. except for Beethoven. Or Bach. And maybe some others. But let's be honest, his music is as recognizable as any, especially Rondo Alla Turca. This is an adaptable arrangement for wind musicians. It can be mix-matched in various combinations so that young to mid-level players can have access to one of Mozart's most recognizable piano tunes.
buy on smp $5
Toccata and Fugue (Medium)
This is an arrangement Bach's famed Toccata and Fugue. I tried to make it as accessible and playable as possible. It is definitely an arrangement and NOT a transcription. Hopefully this will give some good access to musicians that need a quick and playable version for various events. It was premiered at my band's "socially distanced" Halloween Concert in 2020.
Free Pdf (as seen on video)
Purchase full arrangment and parts on sheet music plus
In the Hall of the Mountain King - M/ME
Edvard Grieg's awesome tune from Peer Gynt. On the spectrum of transcription vs. arrangement, this one definitely leans towards an arrangement to make it more playable by winds (especially brass). This one should definitely be achievable by mid-level players. As with all of these arrangements, they can be also be played with a full ensemble. 
buy on smp $5
Can Can - Offenbach
Jaques Offenbach's Can Can music is one of the most recognizable pieces of classical music. Actually entitled Galop Infernal (from his operetta Orphée aux Enfers), the music is energetic and delightful. I've put this into an accessible arrangement for middle level players. It is "arranged" and is not a straight transcription to make it a bit more playable if only brass players are using it.
buy on smp $5
Twinkle Variants - (Medium Difficulty)
Twinkle Variants is my upbeat take on Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. I wrote in a style to allow the performers freedom to lean into the "fun" aspect of playing and entertaining. There are no dynamics, so add your own! Go with the phrase, maybe add some surprises. I'm Enjoy!
Purchse on sheet music plus - $6
Trumpet Voluntary - Prince of Denmark's March (Easy)
I first arranged this for my hodge-podge instrumentation at my first teaching gig. I had a group of great kids with wacky instrumentation. My mixed 7th-8th grade group played for the middle school graduation ceremony and we need a tune that was NOT "Pomp." Tune worked well and the kids enjoyed playing it. It is designed to add repeats in as many times as needed (though not written in). Just play the intro, repeat as many times as necessary the jump to the end. I feel like this tune can work well at any time of awards ceremony or graduation.. playable by as few as five players and also sounds good as a full ensemble.
purchase on smp - $4
Danse Macabre (Medium)
A fun arrangement of Saint Saens' Danse Macabre. Perfect for chamber ensembles to practice with some spooky Halloween-ish music!
Free PDF (as seen on video)
Buy full arrangement on Smp - $5

The Majesty Trilogy

Majesty (easy)
This is a tune I wrote that would be great for musicians' first chamber ensemble. As with all of these, you could also play it with a full ensemble. I originally wrote this for brass quintet with the intent that it would be great one for younger players to start developing chamber music skills. Since it's expanded to be adaptable, lots of different combinations are usable (i.e. brass quintet but an alto sax covers the horn part). 
Listen/Purchase on SMP - $5

Castle on the Hill (the sequel to Majesty)
I got a lot of positive feedback from Majesty, so I wrote another similar tune. It literally follows the same form/formula. Written to be an intro to chamber music as well as functioning as a full ensemble piece if desired. The ranges and playability are around generally the first year or early second year of playing. It could also just serve as a great tune to have on a quintet's playlist, possibly if students are playing for a faculty event or at an art showing or something. I'm always a fan of adding LIVE musicians whenever possible. 
SMP - $5

And now we have a trilogy... presenting Regal Rondo!
To close out the Majesty series, we now how Regal Rondo. All of them are more or less in a "rondo" form (ABACA..etc). I chose to do this to make it a little more accessible to the younger players, having a recurring section to lean on each time it returns. It can also help the audience to latch on to the melody as they listen.
smp - $5
Glinka Polka - (Medium Difficulty)
This polka by Mikhail Glinka is originally for piano. One of the first prominent classical composers in Russia, the music definitely has a particularly "Russian" flair. This one may be better suited for woodwinds, but brass can definitely play it with some technical facility. It'd be a great workout for those trumpet valves. 
purchase on sheet music plus - $6
Minuet in G (in Eb) - (Medium Easy)
The ever-famous Minuet in G arranged for brass and/or woodwinds. This arrangement was transposed to Eb to make it a more friendly key for wind players. You can take some liberties and mix it up a good bit to make it longer if necessary. As with all of these arrangements, they do work for a full concert band as well. 
purchase on sheet music plus - $5
 Wedding March by Wagner (medium)
This is straight-forward arrangement of the Wedding March. This is a perfect arrangement for those weddings where they just want their "musician" friends to play resulting in the instrumentation of a flute, two saxophones, a cello, and a bass trombone. Well this arrangement is perfect for you. It also works for normal groups too.. but where's the fun in that? 
buy on smp $5
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  • Start Here
    • Search Site
    • Blog
  • Music
    • Concert Band - Marches
    • Concert Band - B
    • Concert Band - VE
    • Concert Band - E
    • Concert Band - ME
    • Concert Band - M
    • Adaptable Duets
    • Adaptable Trios >
      • Adaptable Trios SAB
      • Adaptable Trios Mix Match
    • Adaptable Quartets
    • Adaptable Quintets >
      • Adaptable Quintets - Classical
      • Adaptable Quintets - Pops
      • Adaptable Quintets - Folk & Traditional
      • Adaptable Quintets - Patriotic
      • Adaptable Quintets - Originals
    • Etudes and Exercises
    • Marching Band >
      • Marching Band - Stands Tunes
      • Marching Band - Community
    • Video Games
    • Jazz
    • Christmas/Holiday
    • Strings
  • Instruments
    • Flute >
      • Flute Warm-Ups
      • Flute Scales & Technique
      • Flute Duets
      • Flute Trios
      • Flute Choir
      • Flute Choir Christmas
    • Oboe >
      • Oboe Warm-Ups
      • Oboe Scales & Technique
      • Oboe Duets
      • Oboe Trios
    • Bassoon >
      • Bassoon Warm-Ups
      • Bassoon Scales & Technique
      • Bassoon Duets
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    • Tuba >
      • Tuba Warm-Ups
      • Tuba Scales & Technique
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    • Percussion
  • Free Resources
    • Let's Read Music
    • Ensemble Theory
    • Warm-ups >
      • First Fundamentals
      • Foundation Warm-Ups
      • Young Ensemble
      • Symphonic Warm-Ups
      • Comprehensive Warm-Ups
      • Advanced Warm-Ups
      • Build A Warm-Up
      • Chorales
      • Seasonal
    • Warm-Ups Symphony
    • Fundamentals
    • Scales and Technique
    • Rhythm
    • Arrangements
    • Sight-Reading
    • Breathing
    • Jazz Center
    • Games
    • Strings!
    • Recruitment Materials
    • Posters
    • Free Christmas
  • Cinematic Series
    • Complete Warm-Ups Sets
    • Long Tones
    • Flexibility
    • Articulation
    • Scales
    • Page of Patterns
    • Counting
    • Play Alongs
    • Arbans
    • Pop Rhythms
    • Classical Improv
    • LoFi
    • Music Humor
  • Contact