Grace: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: Grace: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1654S
Price: 7.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 4

Item: 98-B1654S

$7.00

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One moment…

This stunning and emotional work is based on the single word "grace." Largely original, the music weaves a tapestry of solitude, tension, patience and peace. Toward the end of the work, the melody of Amazing Grace emerges subtly and draws the audience in further. An emotional rollercoaster that explores great musical depth.

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Series: FJH Symphonic Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 241444515358

SKU: 98-B1654S

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 idioms at every level of performance. His works have been heard in some of the world's most prestigious venues, from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House, performed by ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to school groups. He is an A. Austin Harding Award recipient, won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for Love and Light, and holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association.

Balmages has conducted extensively with all-state and regional ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras around the globe. His music was performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service attended by President Obama and Vice President Biden. He has received the James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award and was commissioned by the University of Miami to compose for the inauguration of its 6th president. Currently, he serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

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Why we love this

Balmages crafts genuine emotional architecture here, moving audiences through distinct emotional landscapes without sentimentality or oversimplification. The subtle integration of Amazing Grace near the work's conclusion feels earned rather than imposed, rewarding careful listening and making this a conversation piece long after the final chord. Grade 4 ensembles at this level rarely encounter works with this much musical substance and artistic intention.

What to expect

The opening establishes an atmosphere of introspection and quietness, creating moments of isolation that gradually build tension and expectation. As the work unfolds, patience and peace emerge alongside the complexity, culminating in a moment of recognition and transcendence that feels both intimate and universal.

Who it's for

This conductor score serves Grade 4 concert bands seeking repertoire with genuine artistic depth. Directors working with developing ensembles who want to program something emotionally substantive without excessive technical demands will find a rewarding challenge here.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the opening passages with careful attention to dynamic shaping and rubato; the solitude Balmages describes requires restraint from the ensemble and conductor clarity about pacing transitions between sections.
Balance transparency in the ensemble so that thematic voices emerge naturally without sacrificing the overall harmonic support; overly thick scoring will obscure the emotional arc.
Prepare your band for the tonal shift when Amazing Grace enters; this moment demands precise intonation and a unified sense of arrival to land the emotional payoff effectively.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece for a concert exploring contemplative or spiritual themes, allowing it to anchor a set of contrasting works. Its moderate length and emotional impact make it ideal for spring or winter concert programming, particularly when paired with lighter or more energetic pieces.

Skills your students will build

Reading layered harmonic structures and understanding how individual voices contribute to overall color
Responding to subtle dynamic and tempo shifts that communicate emotional content rather than technical marking
Balancing transparency and blend when supporting thematic material across the ensemble
Interpreting a contemporary original work that moves beyond traditional march and fanfare forms