A Festive Fanfare: Chimes (Vibraphone)
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 1
Item: 98-PC-DB1718_CH
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Description
This powerful and driving overture is the perfect way to kick off your holiday program! Featuring a mix of original themes and holiday favorites, this work does not sound like a medley; rather, it is a powerful fanfare featuring snippets of holiday favorites that span from lyrical to soaring! (1:55)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, A Festive Fanfare: Chimes (Vibraphone) 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:
FJH Beginning Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1718_CH
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has established himself as a composer and conductor working across orchestral, band, and chamber music contexts. His works have been performed by ensembles ranging from professional symphony orchestras to elementary school groups in landmark venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Sydney Opera House, and Toronto Centre for the Arts. He received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association and won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for Love and Light. He is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association.
Balmages holds the position of Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic. His conducting appearances span all-state and regional ensembles, university and professional orchestras, and notable conferences including the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and the American School Band Directors Association National Conference. His music was performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service, and he has received commissions from major institutions including the University of Miami.
Why we love this
Balmages understands what Grade 1 conductors and young musicians need: a piece that sounds impressive and celebratory without requiring technical wizardry from any section. The fanfare structure gives every player a moment to shine, and the integration of familiar holiday melodies creates instant audience connection while the original material around them ensures this never feels like a simple medley. At just under two minutes, it's the ideal opener for a concert that wants to establish energy and festivity immediately.
What to expect
A bright, confident announcement that your holiday celebration is underway. The piece moves with purposeful energy, weaving recognizable holiday moments into a cohesive fanfare rather than parading them as separate items. It captures the joy and drive of the season without settling into nostalgia.
Who it's for
Grade 1 concert bands preparing holiday concerts and winter programs. This work serves beginning ensembles that are ready for material with character and forward motion but still need accessibility in technical demands across the full instrumentation.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the thematic material across sections rather than letting any one voice dominate; the brief snippets of holiday material work best when they emerge naturally from the ensemble texture.
- Use the marked tempos as your foundation, but allow the fanfare sections room to breathe slightly; young musicians often rush excitement, and a touch of control here will sharpen the impact.
- Emphasize rhythmic precision in the ensemble parts during transitions between themes; Grade 1 players benefit from clear conducting patterns that anchor them when the musical focus shifts.
How to use it
Open your holiday concert with this piece to establish an immediate festive mood and conductor credibility. The compact length makes it an ideal complement to longer, more contemplative holiday selections later in the program, or pair it with other celebratory Grade 1 works for a energetic program segment.
Skills your students will build
- Ensemble balance and blend across mixed instrumentation
- Rhythmic precision during thematic transitions
- Reading and executing clear dynamic markings
- Responding to conducting tempo and gesture changes