Three Celtic Dances: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$95.00 USD

Three Celtic Dances: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Three Celtic Dances: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1358
Price: 95.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 4

Item: 98-B1358

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This three-movement work is based on various Scottish dance forms and includes a combination of authentic and original music. The opening Reel begins with a light-hearted presentation of the melody in typical Scottish fashion. As the movement develops, rhythms and harmonies become more intense and driving before a burst of percussion brings it to a sudden close. The second movement, Air, uses solo alto saxophone in a lush and lyrical setting of Well May I Behold My Faithful Brown-Hair'd Maid. The theme, presented in two contrasting settings, becomes extremely powerful with soaring countermelodies before returning to the tranquility of the opening. The final movement, Jig, makes use of expansive percussion as it celebrates one of the most well-known Celtic dance forms. The composer layers themes and various sounds throughout as the work builds to a furious conclusion supported by an enormous battery of percussion. Thrilling!

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Three Celtic Dances: 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: FJH Symphonic Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 674398223107

SKU: 98-B1358

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages commands respect across orchestral, band, and chamber music worlds. His compositions have graced major venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Sydney Opera House, performed by ensembles spanning from professional orchestras to school groups. He won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest, received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, and holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association.

As a conductor, Balmages maintains active guest relationships with all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras internationally. His work was featured in the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service, and he has conducted at major conferences including the Midwest Clinic and Western International Band Clinic. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

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Why we love this

Balmages structures each movement with clear contrasts that give your band genuine narrative arc without sacrificing accessibility. The opening Reel's momentum builds naturally from light Scottish charm into driving intensity, while the Air's alto saxophone solo provides a true lyrical centerpiece that lets your best player shine. Grade 4 concert band music rarely balances this level of percussion writing, thematic sophistication, and festival appeal.

What to expect

Authentic Scottish character meets contemporary concert band energy. You move from the infectious momentum of a traditional reel through the intimate beauty of a folk song arranged for solo voice, then explode into the celebratory drive of a jig alive with percussion color.

Who it's for

Concert bands at the Grade 4 level looking for festival-worthy material that celebrates Celtic traditions without requiring specialized knowledge. Directors seeking a three-movement work that showcases both lyrical and rhythmic strengths across the ensemble.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the alto saxophone solo in the Air movement by having the ensemble pull back dynamically; this soloist carries the emotional weight of the second movement and needs clear space to sing.
The percussion battery in the final Jig demands rehearsal time separate from the full ensemble. Lock the timpani and bass drum foundation first, then add pitched percussion and smaller voices on top.
Shape the Reel's opening melody with gentle Scottish character rather than driving it hard; let the intensity build organically as the movement develops rather than beginning at full throttle.
Treat the sudden close of the Reel as a genuine surprise. Your ensemble should come together on that final percussion burst without telegraphing it.

How to use it

This works beautifully as a festival entry or as the anchor of a multicultural concert program. The three-movement structure and energetic finale make it ideal for closing a first half or serving as the climactic piece before intermission, though the Air's contrasting mood also positions it well as a palate-cleanser between heavier works.

Skills your students will build

Sustaining lyrical lines without vibrato over longer phrases (Air movement)
Coordinating complex percussion layering and independence between pitched and unpitched instruments
Playing stylistically authentic Scottish rhythmic figures and articulation
Balancing solo voice against ensemble support in chamber-like textures
Managing dynamic contrast and intensity shift within single movements