Azure Hills: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$48.00 USD

Azure Hills: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Azure Hills: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-33825
Price: 48.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Steve Hodges

Grade: 1.5 (Easy)

Item: 00-33825

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Azure Hills is a lyrical ballad that presents the band with many opportunities for expressive playing. The theme is lightly presented by the flutes, then followed by another statement in the trumpets with added textures in the accompaniment. The second statement features some interesting harmonies by the woodwinds before leading into a very expressive final presentation of the melody with an added woodwind countermelody. A stirring variation and development leads to a very effective and climactic ending where melodic motives are passed from section to section as the piece winds down to a quiet, reflective conclusion.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Azure Hills: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Challenger Band Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 118

UPC: 038081394831

SKU: 00-33825

More about this title

About the Composer: Steve Hodges

Steve Hodges studied music education at Western Oregon University and Central Washington University, earning degrees that prepared him for a four-decade career directing concert bands, choirs, and small ensembles across public schools. Since 1986, he has composed over 120 concert band works published by Alfred Music, along with choral arrangements issued through Staff Music and Shawnee Press.

Hodges' compositions have traveled internationally and appeared at state conventions and music festivals. His commissioned works span multiple states and Canadian provinces, from Virginia to British Columbia, and his music has been featured on TBS and ESPN programming. Now retired and based in The Dalles, Oregon, Hodges remains active in community music and is a member of ASCAP. He takes particular joy in learning that his own grandchildren are performing his pieces in their school bands.

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Why we love this

Hodges crafts a piece that respects the Grade 1.5 ensemble without sacrificing musical substance. The architecture unfolds naturally, with each section statement adding textural and harmonic depth, giving young musicians genuine expressive material to sink their teeth into rather than simple repetition. The climactic interplay of melodic motives across sections rewards attentive ensemble listening and coordination.

What to expect

A piece of quiet, introspective beauty that gradually blossoms. The flute introduction feels like a gentle landscape unfolding; as the theme passes through the trumpets and woodwinds, it gains warmth and subtle complexity. The final section builds with quiet intensity before settling into a reflective stillness, leaving the audience with a sense of contemplative resolution.

Who it's for

Early-level concert bands ready for music that asks more of their musicianship than their technical facility. This works equally well for a group starting their first year of serious concert repertoire or a developing ensemble that needs expressive content without complex rhythmic or harmonic demands.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the flute opening with a long, unhurried phrase; young players often rush lyrical material, so conductor modeling of the desired line is essential.
Balance the trumpet statement carefully against its accompaniment textures so the melody projects without the band swelling indiscriminately.
Use the woodwind countermelody section to reinforce blend and balance work; this teaches parts awareness naturally through the scoring itself.
Shape the climactic section as a genuine build with purposeful dynamic control; avoid letting the energy collapse into the final quiet resolution.

How to use it

Pair this as a lyrical centerpiece in a concert that balances more energetic or technically demanding works. Its expressive arc and accessible difficulty level make it an ideal choice for festival programming or a concert's emotional turning point, particularly effective as a bridge between a rousing opening number and a finale.