The Spirit of Aloha: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$85.00 USD

The Spirit of Aloha: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: The Spirit of Aloha: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1620
Price: 85.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Island Dance

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 3

Item: 98-B1620

$85.00

Shipped

One moment…

Inspired by a trip to Honolulu, this music embodies the “aloha spirit” that so many discover when visiting the islands of Hawaii. Making use of a wealth of authentic percussion instruments (along with many options for substitutions), the piece truly captures the bright spirit of Hawaii. An optional ukulele part is cued in other instruments, and the piece concludes with a powerful rendition of Hawaii Aloha, an anthem of great pride to those who live in Hawaii. Magical!

The Spirit of Aloha: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.

No sample videos found.

Series: FJH Concert Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

SKU: 98-B1620

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages has established himself as a composer and conductor with major work across orchestral, band, and chamber genres. His compositions have reached stages from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House, performed by ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to school bands. He holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association, won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for Love and Light, and received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association.

Balmages maintains active guest conducting relationships with all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras internationally. His music was performed during the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service attended by President Obama and Vice President Biden. James Madison University and the University of Miami have both honored him as an alumnus, with Miami commissioning a work for the inauguration of its sixth president. He currently directs MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Balmages captures genuine Hawaii culture without resorting to clichéd orchestrations. The inclusion of authentic percussion instruments with practical substitution options means your band can sound rich and place-specific regardless of what your percussion section owns. Programming a piece that concludes with Hawaii Aloha gives your concert both educational depth and a moment of real cultural weight.

What to expect

Bright and inviting, like stepping into warm island air. The piece moves through genuinely Hawaiian musical gestures without feeling forced, building toward the anthem at the end with the kind of pride that comes from honoring a real place and its people.

Who it's for

Grade 3 concert bands ready to explore multicultural repertoire with accessible but authentic instrumentation. Directors seeking a programming piece that educates students about Hawaiian culture while building engagement with non-traditional percussion colors.

How to get the most out of it

Explore the ukulele cuing carefully during rehearsal; even if you have a ukulele player, knowing where the part doubles other instruments helps the whole band understand the melodic line's contour.
Balance the authentic percussion parts so they enhance rather than overwhelm the band's sound; these colors work best when they support the ensemble texture.
Give the final statement of Hawaii Aloha space to breathe; this is the emotional anchor of the piece, and it deserves clarity and weight from your full band.

How to use it

This works as a spring concert centerpiece or as part of a cultural celebration program. Pair it with other world music selections for a programming arc that travels geographically, or use it as the finale to close a concert on an uplifting, unifying note.

Skills your students will build

Reading and responding to percussion scoring that uses both traditional and world instruments
Blending non-traditional percussion colors within a concert band texture
Performing an established cultural anthem with historical and emotional awareness
Ensemble balance when optional instrumental parts are present