Wings to the Mind: Concert Band Conductor Score

$11.00 USD

Wings to the Mind: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: Wings to the Mind: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1847S
Price: 11.00 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

By Brian Balmages

Level:.5

Item: 98-B1847S

$11.00

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This fanfare-style work celebrates the famous quote by Plato in which he states "Music... gives wings to the mind [and] flight to the imagination...." Despite using only six notes and basic rhythms, the work sounds shockingly mature and powerful. A strong, celebratory work for your youngest musicians!

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Series: FJH Starter Series

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 241444534472

SKU: 98-B1847S

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages has established himself as a composer and conductor equally at home in orchestral, band, and chamber settings. His works have been commissioned and performed worldwide, from Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center to the Sydney Opera House, and he received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association for his contributions to wind music.

Balmages won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest and holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association. As a guest conductor, he regularly leads all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras across North America, Europe, and Australia. 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 crafted something deceptively clever here. The constraint of six notes and basic rhythms becomes the point, not the limitation. Young players experience how compositional clarity and structural confidence matter more than complexity, and they'll sound genuinely accomplished performing it. This is the kind of piece that builds ensemble confidence while holding up to adjudicated events.

What to expect

A ceremonial flourish. Bright, confident, and genuinely uplifting despite its economy of means. The piece captures the spirit of Plato's words; it feels like possibility and achievement all at once.

Who it's for

Elementary and early middle school concert bands ready for their first festival or formal performance experience. This work proves to young musicians that powerful music doesn't require technical demands, only musicianship and ensemble discipline.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the fanfare phrases with a clear beginning and release. Young players often sustain past the musical thought; map out exactly where each idea lands and breathes.
Balance the harmonic texture so the foundational notes aren't obscured by the decorative figures. Even with six notes available, distribution across the band makes the difference between murky and radiant.
Hold the celebratory energy without rushing. The simplicity invites tempo creep; a steady, confident pulse from the conductor is essential.

How to use it

Open a concert with this as your statement piece. Its brevity (appropriate for early ensembles) and celebratory character make it an excellent opener that sets a confident tone before moving into longer works. It also serves as an ideal festival selection when you want your young musicians to compete without the pressure of technical virtuosity.