TRACK OF TITANS/MDB: Baritone T.C.
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 1.5
Item: 00-PC-0019688_BTC1
$3.00
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Description
Track of Titans is an energetic piece by Brian Balmages that celebrates American horse racing history, from the legendary Mambrino King to the largest indoor racetrack in the United States. Featuring sweeping fanfares, thundering rhythms, and a triumphant coda, it's a thrilling journey that will captivate audiences and inspire your musicians! (2:15)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, TRACK OF TITANS/MDB: Baritone T.C. 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:
MakeMusic Developing Band
Publisher:
MakeMusic Publications
SKU:
00-PC-0019688_BTC1
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has built an international reputation as a composer and conductor equally fluent in orchestral, band, and chamber idioms. His works have been heard in some of the world's most prestigious venues, from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House, performed by ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to elementary school bands. He received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, took first place in the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for Love and Light, and holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association.
Balmages has received commissions from major institutions, including the University of Miami for music celebrating the inauguration of its president, and his work was featured during the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service attended by President Obama and Vice President Biden. He maintains an active conducting schedule with all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras worldwide, and currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
Why we love this
Balmages crafts this Grade 1.5 opener with narrative drive and genuine musical substance. The sweeping fanfares and thundering rhythms capture the pageantry of American racing history without overwhelming young players, making it an ideal choice for building ensemble confidence while delivering authentic concert appeal.
What to expect
Track of Titans gallops forward with unbridled energy, sweeping you through American sporting legend with fanfares that feel monumental and rhythms that thunder with power. The music captures both the grace of these legendary horses and the raw excitement of the racetrack, building to a triumphant finish that leaves audiences exhilarated.
Who it's for
This piece belongs in the hands of Grade 1.5 concert bands ready to tackle material with personality and drive. Young ensembles benefit from the straightforward scoring and motivating storyline, while the contest and festival designation makes it an excellent choice for groups seeking meaningful contest repertoire that doesn't sacrifice musicality for accessibility.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the fanfare sections between brass choirs to ensure the heroic character projects without drowning out the supporting voices; this establishes the triumphant tone early.
- Lock the rhythmic figures in the mid-section by having the percussion and lower reeds count together before adding the full ensemble; young groups often rush when excitement builds.
- Shape the coda with a clear crescendo trajectory from your opening downbeat; resist the urge to overstate dynamics early, saving your full sound for the final climax.
- Use the recorded accompaniment in rehearsal to let your musicians hear the piece at performance tempo before your band reaches full readiness, especially helpful for internalizing the sweeping lines.
How to use it
Open a concert with this piece to set an energetic, confident tone and engage your audience immediately. The 2:15 duration and high-impact character make it equally effective as a contest selection or a showcase for what your developing band can achieve musically.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining powerful, well-supported tone in fanfare passages
- Executing rhythmic precision in fast-moving sections
- Balancing independent melodic lines within the ensemble texture
- Building dynamic control through structured crescendos to a climactic finish
- Coordinating brass and woodwind sonorities in contemporary concert band scoring