To the Skies!: Concert Band Conductor Score

$10.00 USD

To the Skies!: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: To the Skies!: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-51937S
Price: 10.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Kenley Kristofferson

Grade: 1

Item: 00-51937S

$10.00

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One moment…

Capture the thrill of soaring through the air, sailing through the azure sky with the clouds spinning behind you. To the Skies! is a vibrant work by Canadian composer Kenley Kristofferson. He incorporates a unique retro video game sound and brings the boundless thrill of adventure to your next performance. An optional 8-bit backing track adds even more fun! (1:40)

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Series: MakeMusic Developing Band

Publisher: MakeMusic Publications

ISBN10: 1-4706-7345-2

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-7345-1

UPC: 038081595665

SKU: 00-51937S

More about this title

About the Composer: Kenley Kristofferson

Kenley Kristofferson composes for concert band, choir, orchestra, and video games. A euphonium player from Gimli, Manitoba, he earned degrees in music and education from the University of Manitoba and completed his Master of Music in Composition at Brandon University under Dr. T. Patrick Carrabré. His concert band works have been performed by ensembles including the Arizona State University Wind Orchestra, Cleveland Symphonic Winds, and Winnipeg Wind Ensemble, and his compositions have won recognition from WASBE's Composition Competition and the Canadian Band Association.

Beyond concert music, Kristofferson has composed for major video game franchises including DuckTales, Warhammer 40,000, and others. His film score for Star Stuff, a documentary short about Carl Sagan, was nominated for Best Original Score at the 2016 International Sound and Film Music Festival. He currently teaches instrumental music in Selkirk, Manitoba, and spends his time outside the classroom with family, retro gaming, woodworking, and running.

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Why we love this

A composer who genuinely understands what young bands can play writes this piece with infectious energy and clever orchestration that never talks down to Grade 1 players. The 8-bit video game aesthetic feels fresh in the concert band repertoire, giving your students a genuinely fun theme to sink their teeth into while building fundamental ensemble skills. Programming it opens conversations about music and digital culture that engage audiences beyond the typical concert experience.

What to expect

Weightless and exhilarating, like the moment an aircraft lifts off the runway. The retro video game sound design creates an almost nostalgic futurism, propulsive without being aggressive, playful without being silly.

Who it's for

Beginning concert bands hungry for music that feels contemporary and genuinely fun to play. This Grade 1 work belongs on programs where you want to hook audiences with something unexpected while building your students' confidence on straightforward material.

How to get the most out of it

Lean into the retro video game character throughout. The melody should have that bouncy, slightly exaggerated energy of classic arcade music rather than smooth lyricism.
If using the optional 8-bit backing track, rehearse with it early and often so your band locks into the electronic groove before performance day.
Balance the entire ensemble carefully. Grade 1 writing often centers the melody, but watch for inner voices that need definition to create the full harmonic texture.
Maintain steady, energetic tempo. This piece thrives on consistent pulse; hesitation undermines the soaring feeling Kristofferson is after.

How to use it

Open a concert with this to signal that band music can be adventurous and contemporary. It pairs well alongside more traditional Grade 1 selections, offering contrast in orchestration and aesthetic. Its brief duration (1:40) makes it ideal for festival play or as a standalone feature before moving into longer works.