The Star-Spangled Banner: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By John Stafford Smith / arr. Brian Balmages
Grade: 4
Item: 98-DB1615
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Description
Premiered by the Ohio All-State Band, this stunning and emotional arrangement pays homage to the amazing performance by Bruce Hornsby and Branford Marsalis at the 1991 NBA All-Star Game. That performance visibly affected many in the audience in a deep way, and this arrangement is designed to evoke those same emotions. True to the original, yet with a contemporary spin that does not go too far. Amazingly powerful.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Star-Spangled Banner: 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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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Concert Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DB1615
More about this title
About the Composer: John Stafford Smith
John Stafford Smith (1750-1819) was an English composer and organist whose versatility spanned sacred music, glees, and instrumental works. Though he composed prolifically throughout his lifetime, Smith is remembered primarily for one melody: the tune he wrote in 1773 that would eventually become the setting for "The Star-Spangled Banner." That melody's enduring power and emotional capacity have made it one of the most significant contributions to American musical life, even though Smith composed in relative obscurity during his own era.
Why we love this
Brian Balmages captures the gravitas and vulnerability of that legendary 1991 NBA All-Star Game performance without abandoning the anthem's fundamental character. At Grade 4, the arrangement is sophisticated enough to challenge your band while remaining accessible; the orchestration honors Hornsby and Marsalis's restrained, intimate approach rather than overwhelming the melody with conventional patriotic bombast. Your students will feel the weight of what they're playing.
What to expect
The performance feels intimate yet grand, like watching something deeply personal shared with a room full of people. The contemporary arrangement strips away excess ornamentation, allowing the melody to breathe and resonate with the kind of quiet power that moved an arena in 1991. Your band will experience what it means to play a national anthem as a genuine musical statement rather than a ceremonial obligation.
Who it's for
This arrangement serves concert bands at the high school level and above, as well as community and college bands seeking a patriotic selection that avoids cliché. Directors programming a concert that includes serious artistic work will find this piece both emotionally intelligent and technically accessible to Grade 4 ensembles.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening with restraint. Resist the urge to enter at full volume; let the melody unfold with space and breathing room, mirroring the intimacy of the 1991 performance.
- Balance the harmonic foundation so the melody can be heard clearly throughout. Young bands often lose the tune in the middle voices, so check sectional balance in rehearsal.
- Work the fermatas deliberately. Each held note is an opportunity for the band to listen to one another and find a unified sound before moving forward.
- Treat the final measures with intention. The ending should feel earned and reflective, not rushed or over-driven.
How to use it
Open a concert with this piece to set a reflective, emotionally anchored tone before moving into other repertoire. It also pairs well as a closer, particularly if your program explores themes of heritage, resilience, or American music. Consider programming it alongside works by contemporary composers to highlight how traditional melodies remain vital when arranged with artistic intention.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing melody and accompaniment in a Grade 4 arrangement
- Sustaining long phrases with dynamic control and breath management
- Listening for ensemble blend and intonation in slower, exposed passages
- Interpreting fermatas and other expressive markings with musical intent rather than mechanical execution