Through Courageous Eyes: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$65.00 USD

Through Courageous Eyes: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Through Courageous Eyes: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1155
Price: 65.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 2.5

Item: 98-B1155

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This innovative work makes use of an optional piano part that is most likely playable by someone already in the band. It was written in honor of Matt Rhodes, a student at John T. Baker Middle (Damascus, MD), who passed away during a battle with spina bifida. It represents his kindness, courage, and determination despite his confinement to a wheelchair. An opening ethereal section and chorale moves into an exciting portrayal of life which concludes with a humorous ending that was very characteristic of Matt. A very musical composition that teaches much more than notes. (4:50)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Through Courageous Eyes: 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 Young Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 674398210770

SKU: 98-B1155

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 music with equal facility. His compositions have been performed by ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to school bands in prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House. He received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for Love and Light, and holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association.

Balmages earned the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Visual and Performing Arts and was commissioned by the University of Miami to compose for the inauguration of its sixth president. His music appeared in the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service, attended by President Obama and Vice President Biden. As a conductor, he maintains regular engagements with all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras worldwide, with notable guest conducting appearances at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and numerous international conferences. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

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Why we love this

Balmages builds genuine emotional weight into this Grade 2.5 score without overreaching technically. The piece balances accessibility with substance, giving your band members a chance to play music that means something while developing musicality alongside their technical growth. Its mixed emotional arc—from ethereal opening through celebration to humor—teaches students that concert band music can carry real human stories.

What to expect

The piece opens in hushed reflection before unfolding into a rich portrayal of vitality and movement. Beneath the celebratory middle section runs a current of genuine emotion; the writing honors joy and determination without sentimentality. The closing brings a knowing lightness that feels earned rather than imposed.

Who it's for

Grade 2.5 concert bands looking for repertoire that combines musical substance with emotional depth. Directors seeking pieces that teach beyond mechanics will find this especially valuable for young musicians who respond to purpose and meaning in the music they perform.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the optional piano part carefully in the ethereal opening; it should enhance rather than dominate the band's delicate textures.
Bring out the contrast between sections by adjusting your conducting approach. The opening requires restraint and space, while the life portrayal section needs energy and forward momentum.
Let the humorous conclusion land without rushing it. The humor reads clearly when phrasing is deliberate and ensemble attacks are clean.

How to use it

Program this on a concert that balances technical repertoire with pieces that matter. It works particularly well as a transition piece between faster or more technical selections, or as an anchor for a thematic concert addressing resilience and character. The modest technical demands make it accessible for mid-season performance without requiring extensive rehearsal time.