Concerto for Two Hands: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Balmages nails the humor here without sacrificing musical substance. The concerto structure is genuine, the arrangement is clean enough for young players to execute, and the comedy lands because it's rooted in real musical setup and payoff. Your band gets to play something with actual brass and woodwind writing while your audience experiences a perfectly timed surprise that will be talked about long after the concert ends.

Grand, theatrical, and genuinely funny. The opening has all the pomp of a real concerto, with warm harmonies from the band framing the soloist's entrance. Then comes the delightful absurdity of watching someone prepare for a virtuoso display, only to deliver perfectly timed applause. The improvised cadenza gives the piece its own unique moment every time it's performed.

This is for any concert band program that wants to entertain without sacrificing musicality. It works especially well when you have a notable community member, administrator, or personality who can commit to the bit. Even beginning bands (Grade 0.5-1) can execute the parts successfully because the arrangement supports emerging players.

• Build the anticipation before the cadenza by letting the band play with genuine grandeur in the opening sections. The contrast makes the clapping reveal even more effective.
• Coach your soloist on timing and confidence. They should walk out as if preparing for a serious competition, then execute their cues with absolute precision. The comedy comes from commitment, not winking at the audience.
• Encourage your soloist to have fun with the improvised cadenza, but establish clear parameters beforehand (length, starting and ending cues). This keeps the surprise intact while giving them room to add personality.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to help your band lock in the rhythmic framework, especially the cues that support the soloist's entrance and cadenza sections.

Close the first half with this piece for maximum impact on audience energy and laughter. The novelty works best when the soloist's identity is a mild surprise to the audience, so avoid over-promoting who will perform it. It pairs well before or after other Balmages works, as his catalog balances serious and lighter concert fare naturally.

• Ensemble precision and coordination with a featured soloist
• Stylistic control in concert band instrumentation (brass and woodwind balance)
• Rhythmic accuracy in passages requiring clear cues to an improvising performer
• Confidence performing music with theatrical and comedic intent