A Moment for Peace: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$60.00 USD

A Moment for Peace: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: A Moment for Peace: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-ST6411
Price: 60.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 5

Item: 98-ST6411

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version

$60.00

Shipped

One moment…

Written as a response to the numerous tragedies occurring throughout the world, this music is meant to draw the performer and listener away from the chaos of the world and into a tranquil space. Inspired by Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis, the piece is scored for double orchestra but may be played in a traditional seating arrangement. Directors will find that it is also quite effective as a chamber work for smaller orchestras. Stunning, with solo opportunities for every principal player.

A Moment for Peace: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.

No sample videos found.

Series: FJH String Orchestra

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 241444367230

SKU: 98-ST6411

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages has built an international reputation as a composer and conductor whose work spans orchestral, band, and chamber idioms with equal fluency. His compositions have been performed by ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to school groups in prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Sydney Opera House, and Toronto Centre for the Arts. He received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association and won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for Love and Light. As a guest conductor, he regularly works with all-state ensembles, university orchestras, and professional groups worldwide, with notable appearances at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and ASTA conferences.

Balmages holds degrees from James Madison University and the University of Miami, receiving the inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award from JMU's School of Visual and Performing Arts. In 2013, he was commissioned by the University of Miami to compose for the presidential inauguration of Dr. Julio Frenk. His music was performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service attended by President Obama and Vice President Biden. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

A Moment for Peace achieves what few Grade 5 pieces do: it offers genuine artistic substance alongside accessibility. The double orchestra scoring provides flexibility for your program without sacrificing the expansive, contemplative sound that makes this work so moving. Every section gets a moment to shine as soloists, and that feature writing transforms a meditative piece into an engaging musical journey for your players.

What to expect

Serene and expansive, like stepping into a quiet space where the noise of the world falls away. The writing draws you inward with thoughtful harmonic movement and long, singing melodic lines, yet moments of fuller orchestration remind you of the piece's emotional significance and weight.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the Grade 5 level seeking repertoire that challenges musically without excessive technical difficulty. Programs looking for a contemplative, meaningful piece for festivals, concert settings, or as a programming anchor that speaks to current events and universal themes.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the principal voices carefully across your two orchestras. The scoring thrives when each section can project without overwhelming others, so rehearse the principal and tutti passages separately until the blend feels intentional rather than accidental.
Shape the phrasing with gentle, sustained bow changes. This piece draws its power from long lines and quieter dynamics, so resist rushing through the calmer passages and emphasize the resonance that open strings and full ensemble voicing can create.
Use the solo opportunities as teaching moments about musical storytelling. Each principal player's feature should feel like a conversation with the ensemble rather than a spotlight moment, helping students understand how soloists and accompaniment dialogue together.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece for a concert themed around reflection or peace, positioning it where it can settle the energy of the performance without dragging pacing. It works particularly well as a contrasting work alongside more energetic repertoire, or as an opening that establishes a more introspective concert mood.