Etowah: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: Etowah: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1366S
Price: 12.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 1.5

Item: 98-B1366S

$12.00

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One moment…

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!

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Series: FJH Developing Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 241444486658

SKU: 98-B1366S

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages has built a reputation across orchestral, band, and chamber music that extends from professional symphony stages to school concert halls. His works have appeared at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Sydney Opera House, and the Toronto Centre for the Arts, earning him the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association and a 2020 NBA composition prize for Love and Light. He holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association and has received distinguished alumni recognition from both James Madison University and the University of Miami.

As a guest conductor, Balmages maintains active relationships with all-state ensembles, regional groups, and university bands across North America, Australia, and Europe. His music was performed during the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service, and he currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

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Why we love this

Balmages refuses to talk down to young ensembles, and Etowah proves it. The piece weaves culturally grounded melodic and harmonic language with percussion writing that demands serious musicianship, all while staying well within the technical grasp of a 1.5-level group. Programming this offers your students something rare: a concert piece with genuine substance that doesn't require years of maturity to execute effectively.

What to expect

The opening evokes ancient ritual and contemplative space before the music gathers momentum, mirroring the rise and flourishing of Etowah itself. Complex textures and innovative harmonies emerge gradually, creating a sound that feels both rooted in tradition and refreshingly contemporary.

Who it's for

Young concert bands ready to expand beyond traditional European harmonic language without sacrificing accessibility. This works equally well for ensembles preparing for festival competition or those seeking repertoire that teaches cultural awareness alongside musical development.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the opening passages carefully. The ethereal quality depends on the winds resisting the urge to swell; let the initial melody sit quietly while you draw out color from the percussion foundation.
Spend extra rehearsal time on the harmonic transitions. Balmages's chord movements avoid predictability, and your ensemble needs to hear where each new section lands before the tempo shifts.
Treat the battery section as full ensemble members, not accompaniment. These percussion parts carry the historical narrative; ensure your timpani, mallets, and drums understand their structural weight.

How to use it

Reserve this for a concert where it can anchor a set exploring Native American music or cultural heritage. The 1.5 difficulty allows it to sit comfortably between more elementary pieces and advanced repertoire, making it ideal for showcasing ensemble growth mid-season or early in the year when sight-reading skills need reinforcement.

Skills your students will build

Reading and interpreting harmonic language beyond diatonic progressions
Balancing ensemble weight across sections with non-traditional vertical voicings
Responding to subtle dynamic layering and textural shifts
Ensemble coordination with complex percussion parts and rhythmic independence
Performing music rooted in cultural contexts and understanding compositional intent beyond notation