Into the Arctic: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$80.00 USD

Into the Arctic: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Into the Arctic: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1645
Price: 80.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 2.5

Item: 98-B1645

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This hauntingly aggressive work investigates the legends surrounding the exploration of Antarctica. Inspired by the recent brutal winters involving the polar vortex, the music depicts magical scenery as well as treacherous terrain. Eventually, the legends of Antarctica take center stage as the music becomes restless and increasingly aggressive. Powerful and exciting!

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Into the Arctic: 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.

SKU: 98-B1645

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 fluency. His works have reached audiences at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Sydney Opera House, and the Toronto Centre for the Arts, performed by ensembles ranging 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 for Love and Light.

As an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association, Balmages maintains an active guest conducting schedule with all-state and regional ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras worldwide. His music was performed during the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service, and he has received commissions from major institutions including the University of Miami. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

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Why we love this

Balmages writes programmatic band music that engages students with a vivid narrative arc without sacrificing musical substance. At Grade 2.5, this piece delivers genuine dramatic weight and contest-worthy excitement while remaining accessible to developing ensembles, making it an ideal choice for groups seeking repertoire that builds technique and musicianship through storytelling rather than technical display alone.

What to expect

The opening draws you into a frozen, otherworldly landscape with an edge of menace beneath its beauty. The music gradually sheds its magical quality, building restlessness and aggression as the darker elements of polar exploration emerge, culminating in powerful, exciting climaxes that leave audiences energized.

Who it's for

Contest and festival bands at the intermediate level looking for programmatic repertoire with dramatic range and musical substance. This work suits ensembles ready to engage with storytelling through music while developing phrasing, dynamic control, and rhythmic accuracy.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the opening passages to establish the arctic landscape before the music turns aggressive; resist rushing into intensity and let the hauntingly magical sections breathe.
Balance the shift from scenery to danger by working the transition deliberately in rehearsal so the ensemble understands when the legends take center stage and the music becomes restless.
Emphasize rhythmic precision in the aggressive sections to maintain clarity and power; sloppy attacks undermine the bite you're building.
Use dynamic contrast to define the different environments depicted in the score rather than playing everything at a single intensity level.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece for a concert theme exploring nature, exploration, or historical narratives. It pairs well with contrasting repertoire on a concert, offering the kind of dramatic programming moment that keeps audiences invested while showcasing your band's ability to shift character and intensity.