Ballade: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$80.00 USD

Ballade: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Ballade: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-20694
Price: 80.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Darren W. Jenkins

Grade: 3 (Medium)

Item: 00-20694

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Ballade is a poignant work dedicated in memory of Heather Leonardi, a sixth-grade, second-year band student who was diagnosed with cancer and tragically passed away later that year. The work is meant to bring back all of the happy and special memories for all of those fortunate enough to have known her. Touching and tender, Ballade would make a perfect addition to any concert program. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Ballade: 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: Alfred Concert Band

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 224

UPC: 038081205052

SKU: 00-20694

More about this title

About the Composer: Darren W. Jenkins

Darren W. Jenkins holds a Master of Music in Composition from the University of Kansas, where he studied under composer James Barnes, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Washburn University. His work as a composer and clinician has earned recognition across the country and internationally, with performances by ensembles at all levels.

Jenkins has built his career moving between school settings where he has shaped young musicians as both director and educator. He has taught instrumental and vocal music in Troy, Kansas; served as Director of Music at Hayden High School in Topeka, Kansas; worked as an elementary band director in Lawrence Public Schools while assisting with the Lawrence High School Bands; and currently serves as Assistant Director of Bands at Olathe South High School in Olathe, Kansas.

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Why we love this

Ballade gives band directors a vehicle for marking something genuinely important in their school community. The Grade 3 scoring sits accessible enough for most bands while maintaining the emotional weight the piece deserves, meaning your students can meet the musical and expressive demands without wrestling with technical complexity. When you program this, you're offering your ensemble and your audience a moment of real connection.

What to expect

Ballade unfolds with quiet dignity. It draws on memory and reflection without sentimentality, inviting the ensemble to play with warmth and care. The music feels intimate despite being scored for full band, asking musicians to listen to one another closely and shape phrases together.

Who it's for

Conductors leading Grade 3 concert bands who need a piece with genuine emotional substance and clear programming purpose. This work is especially valuable for schools looking to honor a community member or mark a meaningful moment in their band's life.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the phrasing with attention to the longer melodic lines rather than individual measures; this will prevent the piece from feeling fragmented and allow its tender character to breathe.
Balance the accompaniment carefully so that whoever carries the principal melody stands out without the harmonic support becoming invisible or colorless.
Let the dynamic arc develop gradually; resist the urge to push too hard early, as restraint makes any climactic moments land with greater impact.
Communicate the commemorative context to your students before rehearsals begin, so they understand they're performing a piece of real meaning, not just repertoire.

How to use it

This works powerfully as a concert centerpiece, particularly when programmed around a commemoration or tribute. It also pairs well on a concert with more energetic selections, as its contemplative character provides necessary contrast and gives audiences space to gather themselves.