Alchemy: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: Alchemy: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-46654S
Price: 8.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Gary Fagan

Grade: 1 (Very Easy)

Item: 00-46654S

$8.00

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One moment…

Alchemy is an ancient philosophy that sought to turn iron into gold. The composer saw a parallel in music: taking the notes of a scale and turning them into music seems just as magical. The notes are like iron and the process of turning them into music makes them as precious as gold.

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Series: Alfred Debut Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 16

UPC: 038081533032

SKU: 00-46654S

More about this title

About the Composer: Gary Fagan

Gary Fagan brings four decades of band direction experience to his work as a composer and clinician. A native of Maryland, he earned his undergraduate degree in Music Education from Bridgewater College and his master's degree from James Madison University. During his 36-year tenure as a band director in Albemarle County, his compositions and arrangements were performed at venues ranging from the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic to the White House, and his work was featured at the inauguration of Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder.

Fagan's contributions to music education have earned him recognition as Central Virginia's Outstanding Middle School Teacher (Phi Delta Kappa), Outstanding Educator from the Virginia Governor's School for the Visual and Performing Arts, and Outstanding Educator from the Piedmont Council of the Arts. He has been listed twice in "Who's Who Among America's Teachers." Since retiring from full-time directing, he serves as University Supervisor at JMU and teaches arranging as adjunct faculty. He remains active as a percussionist with the Charlottesville Band (serving as Assistant Director), as a clinician and adjudicator, and as a member of professional organizations including ASCAP, Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity, and the National Band Association.

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Why we love this

Fagan captures something essential about Grade 1 conducting: the piece gives every section something meaningful to play while keeping technical demands minimal. The alchemical concept behind the work feels genuine rather than gimmicky, grounding students' early experiences in real musical thinking. At this level, it's rare to find a concert piece that sounds professional and feels rewarding to perform.

What to expect

The music unfolds like an incremental discovery: basic scalar material gradually takes on shape, color, and momentum. It has the quality of watching something ordinary become precious through intention and care.

Who it's for

This score is for conductors of beginning concert bands and developing young musicians ready for their first contest or festival repertoire. Grade 1 groups seeking a piece with genuine artistic purpose rather than pure technical drill will find this especially fitting.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the melodic line across sections so the transformation from simple notes to musical phrases becomes audible. Young players often need reminder to listen for where the melody sits.
Keep the tempo steady and unhurried; rushing is the enemy of clarity at this level. A metronome in rehearsal helps the band feel confident.
Let dynamics shape the journey from iron to gold. Even subtle changes (moving from piano to mezzo-piano, then to mezzo-forte) make the concept perceptible.

How to use it

Program this as an opener or a closer at a fall festival; its accessible difficulty and clear concept make it ideal for adjudication settings where the band's musical intent matters as much as technical precision. It also works well as a confidence builder early in the season before tackling more complex repertoire.