Sound Prisms: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$90.00 USD

Sound Prisms: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Sound Prisms: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1138
Price: 90.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 4

Item: 98-B1138

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This exciting fanfare combines traditional, triadic harmonies with splashes of mild and harsh dissonance, especially in the woodwind voices, in a driving 6/8 panorama of sound. The patterns and phrases are heard echoing throughout the full ensemble in an avalanche of changing timbres. The piece builds to a powerful and memorable conclusion. (4:00)

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Series: FJH Concert Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 674398210112

SKU: 98-B1138

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages has built a remarkable career composing across orchestral, band, and chamber music idioms, with his works championed by ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to elementary school groups. His compositions have appeared on stages including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House, and he received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association and the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for Love and Light. He holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association and earned the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Visual and Performing Arts.

As a conductor, Balmages appears regularly with all-state, regional, university, and professional ensembles worldwide, with notable guest appearances at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and the College Band Directors Conference. He has also conducted internationally in Australia and Italy. Currently serving as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic, Balmages was commissioned by the University of Miami to compose for the presidential inauguration of Dr. Julio Frenk, and his music was performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service.

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Why we love this

Balmages crafts a fanfare that respects the Grade 4 ensemble's capabilities while delivering genuine compositional sophistication. The interplay between traditional harmonies and strategic dissonance in the woodwinds creates an audible sophistication that audiences recognize, and the 6/8 meter drives the piece forward with infectious momentum that doesn't require collegiate chops to execute effectively.

What to expect

A cascade of shifting colors propelled by an insistent 6/8 pulse. The traditional harmonic foundation keeps the piece grounded, but splashes of woodwind dissonance create unexpected sonic landscapes that arrive like waves of changing light. The conclusion arrives with unavoidable power, built from accumulated motion rather than brute force.

Who it's for

Concert bands at the Grade 4 level seeking a contest or festival piece that combines accessibility with genuine musical substance. This work rewards ensembles ready to handle mild dissonance and shifting timbres while still playing firmly within technical reach.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the dissonant woodwind textures against the harmonic foundation. These aren't errors to hide but intentional colors that need clarity and projection to register with the audience.
Shape the echoing patterns as deliberate musical events rather than casual repetitions. Each timbre shift should feel purposeful and feed the building momentum toward the finale.
Lock the ensemble's pulse in 6/8 early in rehearsal. The driving rhythm is the piece's engine, and maintaining consistent subdivision ensures the timbral avalanche lands with impact.
Gradually layer the full sound as you approach the conclusion. Resist the temptation to play everything full from the start. The power comes from the building architecture, not constant volume.

How to use it

Program this as an energetic opener or closing contest selection that announces your ensemble's musicality and control. It pairs well alongside more lyrical Grade 4 works because the fanfare language and instrumental color showcase ensemble blend and balance in ways that reveal how much rehearsal has accomplished.