Gettysburg: Concert Band Conductor Score

$5.00 USD

Gettysburg: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: Gettysburg: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1120S
Price: 5.00 USD
Availability: InStock

A Civil War Portrait

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 1

Item: 98-B1120S

$5.00

Shipped

One moment…

Using many effects to recreate the events at the Battle of Gettysburg, this piece is perfect for discussing historical perspective (included in the notes). A slow, mysterious opening leads into a depiction of the battle. A short, aleatoric section simulates a huge cannon bombardment with drums and whistling. A great way to utilize percussion while providing many opportunities for the rest of the band as well. Consider this strongly for your programming needs. (2:45)

Gettysburg: Concert Band Conductor Score isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.

No sample audio found.

No sample videos found.

Series: FJH Beginning Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 241444463024

SKU: 98-B1120S

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages has established himself as a composer and conductor whose work spans orchestral, band, and chamber music with equal fluency. His compositions have reached audiences worldwide, from elementary school ensembles to professional orchestras performing in venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House.

Among his many honors, Balmages received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association and won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest. He is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association and has received distinguished alumni recognition from James Madison University. His work has been performed at the Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service and commissioned by the University of Miami for the inauguration of its president. As a conductor, he maintains active engagements with all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras, with notable guest appearances at the Midwest Clinic, College Band Directors Conference, and music conferences across Australia and Europe. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Balmages crafts a Grade 1 piece that refuses to be simple-minded. The use of aleatoric percussion, whistle effects, and dramatic dynamic shifts gives young musicians genuine musical problems to solve, not just easy notes. The historical context provided invites your band to think critically about what they're playing, transforming a short concert work into a teaching moment.

What to expect

The piece opens in shadow and mystery before erupting into the chaos of battle. Drums and whistles fracture the air in a controlled frenzy, and through it all, the band pushes forward, creating a sonic portrait of one of America's most pivotal moments. The journey from quiet reflection to overwhelming noise and back again gives young musicians the satisfaction of playing something that genuinely communicates.

Who it's for

Beginning concert bands looking for accessible repertoire that takes the Grade 1 label seriously. Directors who want to program something patriotic and historically grounded without sacrificing musical substance or engagement.

How to get the most out of it

Spend rehearsal time on the aleatoric cannon section so your percussionists understand the freedom they have within the overall texture. This isn't about hitting exact rhythms; it's about creating controlled chaos.
Balance the mysterious opening carefully. Without dynamic restraint from the upper voices, the low instrument foundation that sets the mood will disappear.
Use the historical notes to frame the piece for your ensemble before rehearsals begin. Musicians at this level respond powerfully when they understand the story their sound is meant to tell.

How to use it

This works beautifully on a concert exploring American history or patriotic themes, particularly effective as a centerpiece that justifies the entire program's focus. At under three minutes, it fits easily into festival competitions while remaining substantive enough to anchor a school or community band concert.