Flourish for Winds: Score
By Gary Fagan
Grade: 3 (Medium)
Item: 00-PR-0001262
$11.00
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Description
Flourish for Winds was commissioned by the Harrisonburg High School Band to commemorate the opening of their new facility. The City of Harrisonburg, Virginia is very proud to have provided the students with this new building, in which they can learn and grow. 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, Flourish for Winds: Score 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:
Alfred Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
164
SKU:
00-PR-0001262
More about this title
About the Composer: Gary Fagan
Gary Fagan began his music education career in Maryland and has spent decades building programs and mentoring young musicians. After 36 years directing bands in Albemarle County, he transitioned to higher education, where he supervises student teachers and teaches arranging as adjunct faculty at James Madison University. He holds degrees from Bridgewater College and JMU.
Fagan's work as a clinician, adjudicator, and composer has taken his music to stages across the country, from the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic to the White House. He has earned recognition from the Virginia Governor's School for the Visual and Performing Arts, the Piedmont Council of the Arts, and Phi Delta Kappa, and appears twice in Who's Who Among America's Teachers. Active in professional organizations including MENC and the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association, he also performs as a percussionist with the Charlottesville Band.
Why we love this
Fagan wrote this piece specifically to honor a real milestone: the opening of Harrisonburg High School's new facility. That commissioning context gives the music genuine purpose beyond the concert program, grounding it in institutional pride and community. At Grade 3, the writing is accessible without sacrificing musicality, making it rewarding for both developing ensembles and experienced directors seeking repertoire with substance.
What to expect
Flourish for Winds radiates celebration and institutional pride. The writing captures both the formality of a commemorative occasion and the energy of a student ensemble discovering a new space to grow as musicians. It feels like a moment worth marking, with music that carries genuine purpose.
Who it's for
This piece fits concert bands working at intermediate proficiency levels, whether in a high school setting or a strong middle school program. It serves equally well as a contest selection or a concert opener that demands attention without overwhelming the ensemble.
How to get the most out of it
- Build clarity in the woodwind section during the opening flourish figures; rhythmic precision here sets the tone for the entire piece and draws the audience in immediately.
- Balance the texture when brass enters; this piece works best when no single voice dominates, creating the sense of a unified ensemble celebrating together.
- Shape phrases through subtle dynamic control rather than dramatic swells; the piece thrives on momentum and forward motion.
How to use it
Program this as a concert opener or as a standalone feature that acknowledges a school milestone, facility upgrade, or season theme. The Grade 3 level and contest/concert designation make it versatile for fall competitions or spring concerts where you want something substantial but not technically demanding.
Skills your students will build
- Balanced ensemble voicing across woodwind and brass choirs
- Sustaining forward momentum and phrasing at intermediate tempo
- Articulation consistency within choral sections
- Dynamic control and shaping without excessive contrast