Always United, Forever Strong: B-flat Clarinet 1
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 4
Item: 98-PC-DB1557_C1
$7.00
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Description
This dynamic concert opener reflects on the power of a community coming together to be greater than the sum of its individual members. A single note fanfare progressively builds and blossoms into a massive declaration of power and might. Glorious and resolute, this may just be the concert opener that brings your audience to its feet.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Always United, Forever Strong: B-flat Clarinet 1 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 Concert Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1557_C1
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has established himself as a composer and conductor working fluently across orchestral, band, and chamber idioms. His works have reached audiences at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Sydney Opera House, and Toronto Centre for the Arts, performed by ensembles spanning from professional orchestras to elementary school bands. He holds the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for Love and Light, and serves as an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association.
Balmages has received the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award and was commissioned by the University of Miami to compose music for the inauguration of President Julio Frenk. His compositions were performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service attended by President Obama and Vice President Biden. As a guest conductor, he regularly leads all-state and regional ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras worldwide, with notable appearances at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and numerous international venues. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
Why we love this
The architectural clarity of this piece makes it an exceptionally effective choice for opening concerts at any level. Balmages trusts Grade 4 musicians to carry a genuinely powerful musical idea, building from single-note simplicity to full-ensemble declaration without condescension. The patriotic theme resonates authentically, and the dramatic arc virtually guarantees audience engagement from the first moment.
What to expect
The piece unfolds like a community gathering in real time, beginning with a single clarion call that draws others in. Energy accumulates organically, building from restraint to overwhelming collective power, creating a moment of genuine unity and strength that leaves both performers and listeners energized.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the Grade 4 level seeking a compelling opener with immediate audience appeal. Bands preparing for festivals or competitions will find the dramatic arc and patriotic character particularly effective in a program context.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening fanfare with acute attention to dynamics and articulation; the single note must project with absolute clarity before the harmonies bloom around it.
- Balance the progressive layering so each section's entrance registers as a genuine structural event rather than textural blur.
- Reserve full ensemble power for the final declaration; clarity and control in the build-up will make that climax far more impactful.
- Work the middle registers carefully to ensure the piece doesn't become top-heavy as voices are added.
How to use it
Program this as your concert opener; its architectural momentum and thematic clarity command attention and set an energetic tone for everything that follows. The patriotic character also makes it an ideal fit for ceremonies, festival programs, or concerts celebrating community or institutional pride.
Skills your students will build
- Dynamic control and shaping across a broad range (pp to ff)
- Layered ensemble building and balance as voices are progressively added
- Precision articulation in fanfare figures and sustained passages
- Reading and executing the conductor's interpretation of a single dramatic arc