Ultimate Battle: Concert Band Conductor Score

$10.00 USD

Ultimate Battle: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: Ultimate Battle: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-51028S
Price: 10.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 1.5

Item: 00-51028S

$10.00

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One moment…

Only two remain. The title of "champion" hangs in the balance. Welcome to the soundtrack of the ultimate battle, featuring powerful percussion writing, ominous harmonies, and victorious fanfares. Brian Balmages has written music that will keep you on the edge of your seat; let the games begin! (2:30)

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Series: MakeMusic Developing Band

Publisher: MakeMusic Publications

ISBN10: 1-4706-6962-5

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-6962-1

UPC: 038081591575

SKU: 00-51028S

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages composes across orchestral, band, and chamber idioms with equal fluency, earning performances from professional symphony orchestras to elementary school ensembles in world-class venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Sydney Opera House. His accolades include the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for Love and Light, and membership in the American Bandmasters Association. He holds the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award and has been commissioned by the University of Miami to compose for presidential inaugurations; his work was also performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service attended by President Obama and Vice President Biden.

As a conductor, Balmages regularly guests with all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras worldwide, appearing at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, College Band Directors Conference, and international venues including Teatro dell'Aquila in Italy. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

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Why we love this

Balmages has a gift for writing percussion that feels athletic and essential rather than ornamental, and this piece proves it. The grade 1.5 level makes the dramatic arc genuinely accessible to developing bands, yet the writing never condescends; ominous harmonies and victorious fanfares give students real emotional stakes without technical overload. It's a natural fit for contest season because the music itself propels engagement.

What to expect

Cinematic and propulsive, with the energy of two competitors closing in on a decisive moment. Ominous harmonies create genuine tension before victorious fanfares break through, and throughout, percussion writing adds urgency and color that keeps the listener leaning forward.

Who it's for

Developing concert bands seeking contest or festival repertoire that balances technical accessibility with theatrical engagement. Directors working with students in grades 5-8 will find the 1.5 level appropriately challenging while still allowing focus on musical storytelling rather than technical survival.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the percussion spotlight throughout. These parts are written to be heard, so ensure mallets and timpani aren't buried beneath the full band sound, especially in the ominous passages.
Shape the fanfares with clear articulation in the upper voices. Crisp attacks and controlled releases will make the victorious sections land with impact.
Lean into the dramatic contrast between tension and resolution. The title "Ultimate Battle" invites you to conduct with intentionality; exaggerate the dynamic shifts to heighten the suspense.

How to use it

Place this as a second-half opener on a concert to reset the energy of your audience, or program it on a contest set where its short runtime (2:30) and clear dramatic arc make an impression. The piece works equally well as a seasonal highlight during fall festival season or as a high-energy closer to a spring concert.

Skills your students will build

Responding to dramatic dynamic contrast and building tension through controlled releases
Balancing a featured percussion section with the full ensemble sound
Articulation control in fanfare passages
Reading and executing ominous harmonic writing at a developing level