Volatus: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$85.00 USD

Volatus: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Volatus: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-45003
Price: 85.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Beck

Grade: 3.5 (Medium)

Item: 00-45003

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From the Latin word for flight, "Volatus" captures the art of soaring above the clouds. The higher one climbs, the more there is to see. Lift-off begins with stately brass motives and sparkling percussion, then it is up, up, and away with woodwind flourishes. With angular harmonies, driving rhythms in mixed meters, and static percussive effects, this piece has something for everyone to enjoy. (2:40)

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Series: Alfred Concert Band

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 312

UPC: 038081519005

SKU: 00-45003

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Beck

Brian Beck is a composer and arranger whose works appear regularly on festival and contest programs across the country. His compositions have earned recognition as "Reviewer's Choice" selections and "Best New Concert Band Music," while multiple pieces have been included in Teaching Music Through Performance In Band and on prescribed music lists in Texas, Ohio, Florida, and the Pacific Northwest.

Beck's career spans both classroom and clinician roles. He holds degrees in Music Education from Texas A&M University-Commerce and the University of Houston, and has directed bands at middle schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where his ensembles consistently earned Superior ratings at UIL contests and competed at the state and national levels. He remains active as a freelance composer and clinician for instrumental and vocal programs.

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Why we love this

Volatus strikes a genuine balance between accessibility and musical substance. The orchestration gives every section memorable material, the mixed-meter writing feels purposeful rather than arbitrary, and the overall arc from grounded takeoff to soaring flight builds naturally. Directors appreciate Beck's craftsmanship here: the piece holds together structurally while remaining engaging for students to learn and audiences to hear.

What to expect

Volatus begins with quiet confidence and architectural ambition, then releases into exhilaration. There's sparkle and momentum, but also space and clarity; this isn't bombastic energy but rather the genuine sensation of ascending and gaining perspective. The mixed meters and angular chords feel modern without becoming abrasive.

Who it's for

This is ideal for Grade 3.5 concert bands seeking repertoire with contemporary harmonic language that remains emotionally accessible. It works equally well for festival competition and concert performance, offering enough compositional sophistication to engage musicians while remaining approachable for preparation timelines typical of school year scheduling.

How to get the most out of it

Emphasize the contrast between the stately brass opening and the lighter woodwind flourishes that follow; resist the urge to let the tempo sag during the initial motive presentation.
Approach the angular harmonies with clean articulation and precise rhythm; a relaxed attack will blur the modern harmonic color Beck is after.
Shape the static percussive effects as foreground elements rather than accompaniment. These sonorities are integral to the piece's character, not backdrop.

How to use it

Program Volatus as an opener or as the centerpiece of a concert focused on contemporary concert band writing. Its moderate length (2:40) and bright character pair well with more lyrical or classical selections. It also programs effectively in a festival context where the combination of accessible difficulty and musical substance satisfies both adjudicators and student performers.