Heart of Gold: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$70.00 USD

Heart of Gold: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Heart of Gold: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1802
Price: 70.00 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 2.5

Item: 98-B1802

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This highly energetic work uses a simple melody combined with fantastic orchestration for amazing results. A fantastic opportunity to teach 7/8 in a fun, engaging way, the piece is always based on 2+2+3 groupings and has modest technical demands so students can focus on meter. Directors will be excited at how quickly students grasp the concept and are able to dive into the rich musical lines woven throughout. So much fun!

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Heart of Gold: Concert Band 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 Young Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 241444416280

SKU: 98-B1802

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages has built an international reputation as a composer and conductor working across orchestral, band, and chamber idioms. His works have been heard in venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center to the Sydney Opera House, performed by ensembles spanning from professional orchestras to elementary school groups. He received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association and won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest. An elected member of the American Bandmasters Association, Balmages has also received distinguished alumni honors from James Madison University and was commissioned by the University of Miami to compose for a presidential inauguration.

As a conductor, Balmages maintains active relationships with all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras worldwide. His guest conducting appearances include the Midwest Clinic, the Western International Band Clinic, and regional and national music education conferences. Currently serving as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic, he continues to shape both the repertoire and the industry that supports music education.

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Why we love this

This is the rare piece that teaches a challenging concept without sounding didactic. The 7/8 meter feels natural and propulsive because Balmages locks it into clear 2+2+3 groupings from start to finish, letting students internalize the pulse through musical context rather than counting battles. Your ensemble will be playing real, vibrant orchestration while discovering that irregular meters aren't obstacles; they're musical opportunities.

What to expect

Energetic and accessible, with forward momentum that never feels labored. The simple melody anchors the ear while the orchestration keeps things lively and colorful, creating an experience where students feel accomplished rather than overwhelmed.

Who it's for

Grade 2.5 bands ready to tackle their first asymmetrical meter in a piece that rewards careful listening and playing. This works equally well for groups aiming at festival or contest, or for directors seeking a repertoire item that teaches meter through musicality rather than rote drill.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the 2+2+3 grouping in the opening rehearsal by having your ensemble tap or clap the subdivision before reading it. Once that physical shape is solid, the notation clicks into place.
Feature the melodic lines carried by different sections throughout. This is orchestration designed for teaching, so highlight how oboes, clarinets, and trombones trade the primary voice to keep ears engaged.
Keep the energy consistent even when students are concentrating on meter. The piece thrives on buoyancy; if the tempo drags while players mentally process 7/8, the whole effect dissolves.

How to use it

Program this when you're ready to introduce asymmetrical meter to your band, or include it on a festival lineup where you want to showcase both technical growth and musical maturity in your younger players. It also pairs well with other Balmages works or concert programs centered on contemporary music.

Skills your students will build

Understanding and performing 7/8 meter with 2+2+3 subdivisions
Reading and executing rhythmic groupings that don't align with traditional pulses
Listening across orchestration to maintain ensemble cohesion in irregular meters
Sustaining musical line and expression while navigating metric challenges
Following conductor patterns in non-traditional time signatures