Brian Balmages

Featuring string quartet and orchestra, this tour de force follows a few straggling Irish musicians (the quartet) who find themselves in a junkyard picking up scrap instruments. As the quartet begins...

This spirited, high energy work encompasses all the attitude expressed in its title! The orchestra's true personality shines as it moves between technical off-the-string passages and soaring melodies....

This four-movement suite is based on French folk songs and was specifically written for groups that may not be ready for St. Paul's Suite or Capriol Suite, but still want to be able to dig into a subs...

This four-movement suite is based on French folk songs and was specifically written for groups that may not be ready for St. Paul's Suite or Capriol Suite, but still want to be able to dig into a subs...

This nod to alternative styles centers around a funk groove that is loosely based on blues form and its harmonic progression. The entire groove is created organically in the strings alone (no percussi...

This nod to alternative styles centers around a funk groove that is loosely based on blues form and its harmonic progression. The entire groove is created organically in the strings alone (no percussi...

Make a powerful statement with this intense yet introspective work. The opening exclamation by percussion becomes a fixture throughout, supported by epic brass lines and energetic woodwind flourishes....

This set of chorales was written to embrace a wide range of musical concepts, allowing directors multiple opportunities for working on ensemble sound, intonation, and phrasing. Each chorale includes v...

This familiar aria from Puccini's opera Gianni Schicchi is scored to feature solo tuba or euphonium. Gorgeous, lyric lines meld with a simple, warm background... an unforgettable arrangement. The wind...

This familiar aria from Puccini's opera Gianni Schicchi is scored to feature solo tuba or euphonium. Gorgeous, lyric lines meld with a simple, warm background... an unforgettable arrangement. The wind...

This thrilling fanfare by Brian Balmages will set the stage for your entire concert. The audience is taken back to the time of the Roman Empire, with the sounds of the parades that preceded the chario...

The dragonflies will be buzzing around your concert stage when you select this wonderful piece for your concert program. Ideal to strengthen brass players and teach some elementary ear training, the b...

Using many effects to recreate the events at the Battle of Gettysburg, this piece is perfect for discussing historical perspective (included in the notes). A slow, mysterious opening leads into a depi...

This 4-movement multicultural suite provides a wealth of teaching and performance opportunities, especially at the beginning level. Each movement is based on a Smithsonian National Museum in Washingto...

This exciting new work is based on the griffin, a mythological creature native to India, having the head, legs, and wings of an eagle, and the body of a lion. Starting with open 5ths in the clarinets,...

Flying is a favorite activity of lucid dreamers, who are able to become aware that they are dreaming and then control their actions while inside the dream. Among the Clouds takes us into the minds of...

Simple aleatoric passages help recreate the effect of an erupting volcano in this powerful yet extremely playable composition. Using bass drum to suggest the groaning of the volcano, the lyrical openi...

Premiered at Carnegie Hall, this minimalistic fanfare celebrates SpaceShipOne, the first privately manned spacecraft to exceed an altitude of 62 miles twice within two weeks. The three sections explor...

This three-movement programmatic work is based on various constellations and their Greek mythologies. Movements include Orion (The Hunter), Draco (The Dragon), and Pegasus (The Winged Horse). The open...

While not specifically programmatic, this aggressive work paints a picture of mechanical rage in a rollercoaster of sound. From the opening dissonant chords to the exuberant themes and wildly aggressi...

Tired of playing the same old holiday tunes from the method on your winter concert? Then take a fresh approach with this exceptional arrangement that amazingly uses only six notes and note values no s...

This imaginative work was conceived as the underscore to a fictional fireworks show. The opening section suggests the massive fireworks bursting in grand fashion as the music thrives on each explosion...

This spectacular four-movement work paints extraordinary pictures of sea life. Movements include Introduction - Into the Great Blue Sea, The Prowling Shark, Dolphins at Play, and Whale Sighting. Wonde...

Experience the stunning true story of Captain Paul Watson and his crew as they set sail in the Antarctic in an attempt to sink whaling ships! Based on these "modern day pirates," the music tells the s...

Experience the stunning true story of Captain Paul Watson and his crew as they set sail in the Antarctic in an attempt to sink whaling ships! Based on these "modern day pirates," the music tells the s...