Etowah: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$65.00 USD

Etowah: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Etowah: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1366
Price: 65.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 1.5

Item: 98-B1366

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Heavily influenced by Native American sounds, Etowah pays homage to the great Cherokee and Creek nations that once thrived in modern day Georgia. The opening sounds echo the spirit of the ancient city of Etowah before the music builds, taking the listener back to when the city thrived. Including a large battery of percussion, innovative harmonies, and interesting textures not normally found in young band music, this is certain to be a huge favorite!

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Etowah: 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: FJH Developing Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 674398223459

SKU: 98-B1366

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages has built a compositional career that moves fluidly across orchestral, band, and chamber contexts, with performances spanning from elementary school stages to Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House. His work has earned him the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for Love and Light, and membership in the American Bandmasters Association. He served as a commissioned composer for the University of Miami presidential inauguration and contributed music to the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service.

As a conductor, Balmages maintains an active schedule guest conducting all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras internationally, with notable appearances at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and College Band Directors Conference. He currently directs MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic, bridging his work as both a creator and advocate for music education.

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Why we love this

Etowah stands out precisely because it respects both its young players and their audience. Balmages writes with genuine harmonic sophistication and textural variety at the 1.5 grade level, refusing to talk down to emerging bands while keeping the technical demands reasonable. The percussion battery gives your rhythm section real work to do, and the cultural foundation lends substance that makes this more than just another concert selection.

What to expect

Etowah opens with reverence, evoking the quietude of a historic site before gradually awakening to the vitality and pride of a thriving civilization. The innovative harmonies and expanded percussion textures create an immersive soundscape that feels both accessible and sophisticated, inviting listeners into the story rather than simply telling it.

Who it's for

Beginning to early intermediate concert bands seeking repertoire with cultural substance and harmonic depth. This works well for groups ready to engage with non-traditional tonal palettes and percussion layering without the technical demands of higher grade levels.

How to get the most out of it

Let the opening breathe. The opening sounds establish the reflective spirit of the ancient city; rushing these moments flattens the entire emotional arc.
Balance your percussion section carefully. With a large battery on the instrumentation, these colors can easily overwhelm the winds if players aren't thinking about blend rather than volume.
Build the dynamic arc gradually through the middle section. Balmages writes the gradual ascent purposefully, so resist the urge to jump to full volume too early.
Emphasize the innovative harmonies with clear articulation in the woodwinds. These textures are what distinguish this piece from typical grade 1.5 repertoire, so they deserve attention in rehearsal.

How to use it

This works beautifully as a concert opener that sets a thoughtful tone or as a standalone feature piece that demonstrates your band's musicality to an audience. Its cultural content and musical substance make it ideal for programs exploring American history, indigenous heritage, or the artistic dimensions of young band repertoire.