Miles of Blue: Concert Band Conductor Score

$8.00 USD

Miles of Blue: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: Miles of Blue: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1792S
Price: 8.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 4

Item: 98-B1792S

$8.00

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One moment…

This powerful work was written in the wake of the death of NYPD Sergeant Paul Tuozzolo, a hero whose last words and actions saved the life of his partner. His wife Lisa Tuozzolo, an avid speaker and supporter of her “blue family,” is also a close cousin of composer Brian Balmages. It was widely reported that over 20,000 first responders lined the streets to salute Tuozzolo one final time along the route from the funeral home to the church. This piece chronicles that unforgettable drive and pays homage to the many officers that fall in the Line of Duty each year.

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Series: FJH Symphonic Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 241444529140

SKU: 98-B1792S

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages has established himself as a composer and conductor of considerable range, working fluidly across orchestral, band, and chamber music repertoires. His works have been performed by ensembles at every level, from professional orchestras at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center to school groups nationwide. He holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association and received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association; his composition Love and Light won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest. His music was performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service and he has been commissioned by major institutions including the University of Miami for presidential inaugural ceremonies.

As a conductor, Balmages maintains an active guest schedule with all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras across North America, Australia, and Europe. His teaching and mentorship have shaped music education at the secondary and collegiate levels. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

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Why we love this

Balmages crafts a work that honors sacrifice without resorting to bombast. The emotional arc builds with orchestration and harmonic weight rather than volume alone, giving your ensemble room to find genuine expression in music that matters. For Grade 4 bands, this is the rare patriotic piece that earns its gravity through thoughtful composition and allows students to feel the weight of what they're performing.

What to expect

The music unfolds with quiet dignity before building into a processional of overwhelming solemnity. Harmonic progressions and orchestration create an atmosphere of collective respect and remembrance, moving through moments of individual voice and moments of unified strength.

Who it's for

Grade 4 concert bands seeking repertoire that combines technical accessibility with genuine artistic substance. This piece works for groups ready to engage with music that carries real historical and emotional meaning, not just technical exercises.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the melodic content across sections as themes pass from trumpet to clarinet to trombone; clarity of line matters more than blend here since the piece relies on listeners following the narrative.
Shape phrase endings with slight ritardando where the score suggests it, allowing moments of silence to carry emotional weight.
Attend to the recorded accompaniment's tempo during sectional rehearsals so rhythmic entries align naturally when you perform without the track.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece for concerts honoring community, service, or national themes. It pairs well in a set that balances patriotic works with different emotional registers, or stands alone as a meaningful closer that leaves the audience in reflective silence.

Skills your students will build

Sustaining long melodic lines across phrase boundaries
Balancing independent voice parts while maintaining ensemble cohesion
Responding to subtle dynamic and articulation changes that shape emotional content
Synchronizing with accompaniment tracks or conducting without constant visual reference
Interpreting music written for commemorative and historical contexts