Greater Than...: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$60.00 USD

Greater Than...: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Greater Than...: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-ST6488
Price: 60.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 1;1.5;2;2.5;3;3.5

Item: 98-ST6488

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Commissioned by the National String Project Consortium, this gorgeous lyrical work can be performed alone as an intermediate level piece, or with multi-level supplemental parts (available separately) for beginning and developing string students. Orchestrated to celebrate inclusion and diversity, the multi-level option is designed to sound far "greater than" the intermediate version alone. Not your traditional festival orchestra piece by any means.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Greater Than...: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: FJH String Orchestra

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 241444409800

SKU: 98-ST6488

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages has built a reputation as a composer equally at home writing for orchestras, bands, and chamber ensembles. His works have appeared in some of the world's most prestigious venues, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Sydney Opera House, performed by everyone from professional orchestras to elementary school groups. He received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for Love and Light, and holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association.

As a conductor, Balmages maintains an active schedule guest conducting all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras internationally. He has appeared at the Midwest Clinic, the Western International Band Clinic, and numerous state ASTA conferences. His academic honors include the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award and a commissioning from the University of Miami to compose for the inauguration of the institution's 6th president. Balmages currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

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Why we love this

The multi-level design here is genuinely smart: you get a complete, musically satisfying intermediate piece that stands alone, but when you add the supplemental beginning and developing parts, the texture deepens and the harmonic palette expands in ways that feel organic rather than layered. Balmages has thought carefully about how to make inclusion work musically, not just logistically. Programming this means you can showcase your strongest players without leaving anyone on the sidelines.

What to expect

Lyrical and introspective, with a soundscape that feels genuinely inclusive rather than didactic. The music unfolds with grace and generosity, inviting listeners into a collaborative space where each voice matters.

Who it's for

Directors working with mixed-ability string orchestras who want repertoire that doesn't compromise the intermediate group musically. The multi-level option makes it equally valuable for schools looking to expand participation while maintaining artistic integrity.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the lyrical character in sectionals before full orchestra rehearsal. The piece asks for singing tone across all sections, which requires individual attention before balancing the whole ensemble.
If performing with supplemental parts, bring the beginning and developing sections into rehearsal gradually. Let the intermediate group settle into their material first, then layer in the added voices to hear how the work transforms.
Honor the tempo markings and dynamic shapes without rushing. This piece breathes; forcing it will undercut the very inclusion it celebrates.

How to use it

Consider pairing this as a festival selection that invites conversation about ensemble building and shared musical citizenship. You might also program it as the centerpiece of a concert theme celebrating diversity and ensemble inclusion, where the multi-level performance itself becomes a visible demonstration of your school's approach to music education.