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Pele: Concert Band Conductor Score

$20.00 USD
$20.00 USD
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Pele Cover Image
Pele: Concert Band Conductor Score

Pele: Concert Band Conductor Score

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 4

Item: 98-CM7002S
$20.00
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Pele: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

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Description
This latest installment with Canzonique Music is a wonderfully inspiring work. It was commissioned by Jerry Peel, professor of horn at the University of Miami, and was recorded by Peel and the University of Miami Wind Ensemble; Gary Green, Director. Pele was programmed for the College Band Directors National Conference in Baltimore (2004) with guest artist Philip Munds, Principal Horn of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and the Towson University Symphonic Band, with the composer conducting. Pele was inspired by the Hawaiian Goddess of Fire (or Volcano Goddess) by the same name. She was passionate, volatile, and capricious. This lyrical work is an emotional rollercoaster in which we experience a glimpse of her personality - from her quiet moments to her most volatile.

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Additional Details
Series: Canzonique Music
Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.
UPC: 241444597910
SKU: 98-CM7002S
Instrumentation: Solo Horn/Wind Ensemble

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages commands respect across orchestral, band, and chamber music circles as both composer and conductor. His works have graced Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Sydney Opera House, and the Toronto Centre for the Arts, performed by ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to school groups. He earned 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.

Balmages has conducted all-state and regional ensembles, university orchestras, and professional groups worldwide, with notable guest appearances at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, College Band Directors Conference, and prestigious international venues. He received the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award and was commissioned by the University of Miami to compose for the inauguration of the institution's sixth president. His music was performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

Why we love this

Balmages crafts a solo horn feature that respects both the ensemble and the soloist, letting each breathe in turn. The emotional architecture of the work unfolds naturally for Grade 4 ensembles, demanding musicality without overwhelming technical demands. Programming this alongside contrasting works creates a memorable concert moment that showcases your ensemble's ability to support a featured performer.

What to expect

Pele swings between intimate lyricism and fiery intensity, mirroring the goddess's mercurial nature. The horn soloist inhabits moments of serene reflection before the ensemble surges with volcanic passion, creating an emotional landscape that keeps both performers and audience engaged.

Who it's for

Concert bands at the Grade 4 level seeking a substantial solo feature with ensemble support, and horn soloists ready for a rewarding performance opportunity that demands musicality over technical display. Directors looking to program a work that showcases ensemble maturity and collaborative playing will find this a strong addition to any concert or festival.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the ensemble texture carefully in quieter passages so the horn soloist emerges without strain; this allows Pele's introspective moments to land with genuine vulnerability.
  • Shape the volatile sections with clear ensemble ensemble control, treating the band's dynamic surges as a unified force rather than individual moments.
  • Prepare the horn soloist well in advance of performance so they can focus on the emotional arc rather than technical survival.
  • Use sectional rehearsals to ensure woodwinds and brass respond to the soloist's phrasing rather than sitting in metronomic time.

How to use it

This work pairs well on a concert that explores mythology or storytelling through music. Its Grade 4 accessibility and compelling narrative make it suitable for both festival competition and general concert programming, particularly effective as a centerpiece that balances lighter opening works with more substantial closing selections.

Skills your students will build

  • Supporting a solo line with transparent ensemble texture
  • Shaping dynamic transitions from quiet to volatile within a single work
  • Responding to soloist phrasing and adjusting ensemble response accordingly
  • Building sustained musical narratives across longer formal structures
  • Ensemble balance and blend across sections when accompanying a featured performer

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