Skysplitter Fanfare: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$50.00 USD

Skysplitter Fanfare: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Skysplitter Fanfare: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-50680
Price: 50.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 0.5

Item: 00-50680

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Skysplitter Fanfare sounds quite mature yet is extremely playable by beginning ensembles. Driving percussion parts are designed to accommodate large or small sections, and wind players only see quarter, half, and whole notes. Brian Balmages has written a significant powerhouse opener for your youngest musicians! (1:30)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Skysplitter Fanfare: 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: MakeMusic First Performance Band

Publisher: MakeMusic Publications

ISBN10: 1-4706-6341-4

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-6341-4

UPC: 038081580296

SKU: 00-50680

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 repertoires at every performance level. His works have been heard in prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House, 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. An elected member of the American Bandmasters Association, Balmages holds 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.

As a conductor, Balmages maintains active guest conducting relationships with all-state, regional, university, and professional ensembles worldwide. His podium appearances span the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, College Band Directors Conference, and numerous international venues. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

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Why we love this

Balmages has crafted an opener that demands attention while respecting what beginning ensembles can actually execute. The rhythmic drive and orchestration create genuine concert impact, yet wind players encounter only whole, half, and quarter notes, eliminating rhythmic complexity as a barrier. This is the rare fanfare that sounds festival-ready from the first rehearsal.

What to expect

A bright, energetic proclamation that announces something important is about to happen. The fanfare captures the ceremonial grandeur typically reserved for advanced ensembles, yet its straightforward note values and clear structure invite young musicians to inhabit that confidence from their first downbeat.

Who it's for

Beginning concert bands at the Grade 0.5 level who need repertoire with genuine maturity and presence. Directors seeking a confident opener for festivals or concerts will find a piece that sounds experienced without overwhelming players still building fundamental skills.

How to get the most out of it

Lock the percussion section first. The driving parts are the backbone of this fanfare, and a unified rhythm section will anchor the entire ensemble's confidence and sound.
Balance the winds so they support rather than overpower the percussion features. These opening moments set expectations for the whole program, and clarity matters more than volume.
Shape the phrases through dynamics and articulation rather than tempo changes. Keep the forward momentum steady and let the written dynamics do the expressive work.
Mark entrances clearly in parts so beginning musicians can track their precise moment to come in. The fanfare structure depends on clean starts from each section.

How to use it

Program this as your concert or festival opener. At just 1:30, it leaves room for longer works while establishing a strong, professional tone. The piece also works well in a tiered festival setting where beginning ensembles perform alongside more advanced groups.