Eagles Among Us: Baritone / Euphonium
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 2
Item: 98-PC-DB1686_BBC1
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Description
This powerful overture with cinematic overtones is designed to be playable by band alone, yet offers the option of band and strings combined. Depicting the vision of the world from the eyes of an eagle while in flight, the music includes dramatic fanfares juxtaposed with moments of lyricism that range from calming to soaring. An inspiring and accessible work with multiple performance options!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Eagles Among Us: Baritone / Euphonium comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Young Band Plus
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1686_BBC1
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has established himself as a composer and conductor working across orchestral, band, and chamber repertoire at every performance level, from elementary school ensembles to professional orchestras. His works have been heard at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Sydney Opera House, and the 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. In 2023, he was awarded the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Visual and Performing Arts, and that same year the University of Miami commissioned him to compose music for the inauguration of its sixth president.
As a guest conductor, Balmages regularly appears with all-state and regional ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras worldwide. His conducting credits include the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, College Band Directors Conference, and numerous state music education conferences. He is currently Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
Why we love this
Balmages has crafted an overture that captures cinematic scope without demanding advanced technical facility. The flexible scoring lets you perform this with concert band alone or add strings if available, making it genuinely practical for different ensemble configurations. At Grade 2, the writing stays musically substantive throughout: those dramatic fanfares and lyrical passages feel earned rather than oversimplified, giving students real musical storytelling to work with.
What to expect
You're soaring through vast skies, scanning distant landscapes from high above. The music sweeps between moments of grandeur and breathtaking quietude, capturing the freedom and power of flight while grounding itself in moments of stillness and wonder. It feels cinematic without being theatrical: evocative, accessible, and genuinely inspiring.
Who it's for
Band directors seeking a concert opener or festival selection that works for Grade 2 ensembles yet delivers genuine musical impact. This is ideal for programs that want to showcase both technical control and musical storytelling, whether performing band alone or in collaboration with a string section.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the dramatic fanfares against the quieter lyrical sections by establishing clear dynamic contrast in early rehearsals; the eagle's perspective shifts between grand vistas and intimate moments of flight.
- If adding strings, rehearse the band and string sections separately first to lock each part's character before combining them in full ensemble.
- Give soloists and section leaders ownership of the longer melodic lines; this overture thrives on expressive phrasing that extends beyond just accuracy.
How to use it
Open a concert with this to establish an ambitious tone early without overextending a Grade 2 band. It also works well as a festival or contest selection where the multiple performance options let you showcase different aspects of your program's strengths. The dual scoring makes it useful for spring concerts where you might have both band and orchestra students to feature together.
Skills your students will build
- Dynamic contrast and phrasing across extended melodic passages
- Ensemble balance between dramatic and lyrical textures
- Sectional independence while maintaining overall cohesion
- Expressive playing in slower, sustained passages