Gateways: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$60.00 USD

Gateways: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Gateways: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1732
Price: 60.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 3.5

Item: 98-B1732

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Written as a duet for any two instruments and band, this work represents the idea of moving through a gate from one phase of life into the next. Perfect for featuring a specific section, group of talented students, or all of your seniors. Feature just two soloists or mix and match different instruments throughout the piece. The options are limitless!

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Series: FJH Concert Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 241444391068

SKU: 98-B1732

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 music with equal facility. His works have been commissioned and performed worldwide, from professional symphony orchestras to school ensembles, in venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House. 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.

Balmages holds memberships in the American Bandmasters Association and has been recognized with distinguished alumni awards from both James Madison University and the University of Miami, where he was commissioned to compose for the presidential inauguration. His conducting appearances span major conferences including the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and College Band Directors Conference. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

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Why we love this

Balmages gives you real flexibility here: the duet concept invites you to spotlight exactly who needs featuring, whether that's your principal clarinet and trumpet, a senior saxophonist and trombone player, or an entirely different pairing at measure 47. The scoring is transparent enough that the band accompaniment supports without overwhelming the soloists, making it work equally well for your strongest players or students building confidence in the spotlight.

What to expect

The piece captures transition and forward momentum. The duet soloists function as guides moving through harmonic and textural gates, with the band providing architectural support that feels both grounded and aspirational. It's encouraging without being saccharine, reflective of real growth rather than nostalgic sentiment.

Who it's for

Directors programming an all-purpose concert piece that celebrates individual musicians while keeping the band engaged and responsible for musical shape. This works for end-of-year performances, senior recognition concerts, or sectional competitions where you want everyone on stage playing meaningful material.

How to get the most out of it

Experiment with different instrumental combinations during sectional rehearsals before settling on your final pairing; a woodwind duet reads entirely differently than brass soloists with the same accompaniment.
Balance the accompaniment so the band plays as a unified ensemble rather than individual sections; this frames the soloists without competing for attention.
Allow soloists extra rehearsal time with just the rhythm section or a small subset of the band before adding full ensemble textures.

How to use it

Position this alongside other Grade 3.5 concert band repertoire as your feature work for a spring concert or awards assembly. The modular nature of the soloists means you can program it as a standalone spotlight, or pair it with a full-band showcase before or after to frame individual achievement within ensemble context.