Pikes Peak: Concert Band Conductor Score

$11.00 USD

Pikes Peak: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: Pikes Peak: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1767S
Price: 11.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 4

Item: 98-B1767S

$11.00

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One moment…

This dramatic work follows a hiker from the base of Pikes Peak to the summit, encountering all the legend and history along the way. From the numerous reported signs of Big Foot to spectacular views, the opening embodies many different moods. An energetic section introduces small elements of America, the Beautiful before being fully realized in a powerful moment reflective of when Katharine Lee Bates reached the summit herself in 1883 and penned the words shortly thereafter. Ideal as a festival work while also perfect for directors looking for a “different kind” of patriotic piece.

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Series: FJH Symphonic Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 241444526620

SKU: 98-B1767S

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 reached stages from Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center to the Sydney Opera House, performed by ensembles spanning professional orchestras to elementary school groups. He holds 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 serves as an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association.

Balmages received the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Visual and Performing Arts and was later commissioned by the University of Miami to compose for the inauguration of its sixth president. His music appeared in the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service attended by President Obama and Vice President Biden. As a conductor, he maintains regular engagements with all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras worldwide, with notable appearances at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and major music education conferences. 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 narrative arc that feels genuinely cinematic without sacrificing strong band writing. The integration of America, the Beautiful emerges organically from the musical landscape rather than arriving as an obvious patriotic gesture, making this work stand apart from standard flag-waving fare. A Grade 4 piece that demands musicianship and offers real substance for both performers and audiences.

What to expect

The piece unfolds like a journey, beginning with mystery and legend before gradually ascending toward triumph. Moments of reflection alternate with energetic passages, culminating in a powerful statement that captures the awe Katharine Lee Bates experienced from the summit.

Who it's for

Concert bands at the Grade 4 level seeking repertoire with both patriotic resonance and musical sophistication. Directors programming festivals or adjudicated events will find a work that stands out through its storytelling approach rather than relying on familiar arranging clichés.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the opening's shifting moods carefully. Each section depicting different elements of the Pikes Peak journey needs distinct character, so establish clear sectional identity without losing overall narrative flow.
Shape the quotation of America, the Beautiful as a dramatic climax. Let the ensemble build intensity through the approach to this moment rather than entering it at full volume.
Use the conductor score to track the historical context Balmages weaves throughout. Understanding what each musical section represents strengthens interpretation and helps communicate intent to your band.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece on a concert or festival set where it can anchor the second half, especially alongside lighter or purely entertaining works. Its dramatic scope and patriotic underpinnings make it a natural choice for concert programming in spring or for events celebrating Colorado, American history, or nature themes.

Skills your students will build

Interpreting programmatic and narrative content through instrumental performance
Balancing texture and dynamic contrast across multiple sections
Phrasing and shaping quotations from familiar melodies
Reading and responding to conductor direction in longer, multi-sectional forms