A Festive Fanfare Cover Image

A Festive Fanfare: Concert Band Conductor Score

$11.00 USD
$11.00 USD
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A Festive Fanfare Cover Image
A Festive Fanfare: Concert Band Conductor Score

A Festive Fanfare: Concert Band Conductor Score

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 1

Item: 98-B1718S
$11.00
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Description
This powerful and driving overture is the perfect way to kick off your holiday program! Featuring a mix of original themes and holiday favorites, this work does not sound like a medley; rather, it is a powerful fanfare featuring snippets of holiday favorites that span from lyrical to soaring!

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Additional Details
Series: FJH Beginning Band
Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.
UPC: 241444521748
SKU: 98-B1718S

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages has built an international reputation as a composer and conductor working across orchestral, band, and chamber idioms. His works have premiered at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House, performed by ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to elementary school groups. He received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association and won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest. His music was performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service attended by President Obama and Vice President Biden.

As an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association, Balmages maintains an active conducting schedule with all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras worldwide. He has guest conducted at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and major conferences across the United States and internationally. Currently serving as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic, he holds distinguished alumni awards from both James Madison University and the University of Miami.

Why we love this

Balmages resists the medley trap entirely; instead of stringing disconnected snippets together, he weaves holiday material into a genuine fanfare that sounds unified and purposeful. The Grade 1 level delivers real impact without sacrificing accessibility, making this an ideal season opener that announces your program with confidence rather than timidity. Young musicians feel the drive of the work while directors appreciate how cleanly it sits in the ensemble's capabilities.

What to expect

Bright and propulsive, with the ceremonial weight of a true fanfare rather than the casual charm of a medley. Lyrical moments offer breathing space before the music surges forward again, creating a sense of celebration that feels genuine and earned.

Who it's for

Beginning and early intermediate concert bands seeking a stylish concert opener that feels substantial without exceeding ensemble capability. This works equally well for groups new to performance or those looking to establish season momentum with a piece that audiences recognize without sounding derivative.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the dynamic arch across the entire piece rather than treating each theme independently; this maintains the fanfare's forward momentum and prevents a stop-and-start feel.
  • Balance the melody against harmonic support in the middle sections; the soloists should sing through without the accompaniment overwhelming them.
  • Articulate the rhythmic figures crisply, especially in the lower woodwinds and brass, to define the energy that carries between thematic areas.
  • Allow the lyrical passages breathing room; contrast makes the return to soaring sections land with greater effect.

How to use it

Reserve this for the opening concert slot where it can establish tone and energy for the entire program. Pair it with contrasting selections that allow the fanfare's brightness to enhance the dynamic shape of your setlist, or build from it toward more complex works that sustain the season's momentum.

Skills your students will build

  • Maintaining phrase direction across sectional thematic shifts
  • Balancing melody and accompaniment in Grade 1 voicings
  • Executing crisp articulation patterns in rhythmic figures
  • Reading dynamic and tempo indications that define fanfare character

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