Among the Clouds: Bells
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 3
Item: 98-PC-DB1225_B
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Description
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 these dreamers as they drift off to sleep and wake up in a world where they own the skies. After a slow, enchanting opening conveys the sense of drifting off to sleep, the aggressive theme of the fast section begins the amazing flight. This theme develops in several ways before coming to an invigorating conclusion. Highly accessible and exciting for medium level bands!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Among the Clouds: Bells 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-DB1225_B
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has established himself as a versatile composer and conductor working across orchestral, band, and chamber music. His works have received performances by ensembles spanning from professional symphony orchestras to school groups in iconic venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Sydney Opera House. He is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association and received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, along with winning the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for Love and Light.
As a guest conductor, Balmages maintains active engagements with all-state and regional ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras worldwide, with notable appearances at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and the College Band Directors Conference. He has served as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic, bringing his compositional and educational expertise to music pedagogy and publishing.
Why we love this
Balmages crafts a narrative arc that feels earned rather than imposed. The contrast between the ethereal opening and the driving fast section gives your band a genuine musical journey to inhabit, while the accessible Grade 3 scoring ensures every section can contribute meaningfully. The thematic development keeps players engaged without overwhelming them, making this ideal for building confidence in medium-level ensembles.
What to expect
The opening floats like the moment between wakefulness and sleep, with sparse textures and gentle motion. When the fast section arrives, the energy shifts to exhilaration and control, capturing the freedom and power of flight with bold rhythmic figures and driving momentum.
Who it's for
Grade 3 concert bands that have solidified fundamental ensemble skills and are ready to tackle pieces with real dramatic range. This works equally well for groups competing at festivals or seeking programmatic concert repertoire that engages both performers and audiences.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening with a gradual dynamic arc; resist the urge to rush the slow section, even though it may feel sparse. Let the dreamlike quality settle before the fast section erupts.
- Lock the fast section's primary theme with rhythmic precision across all sections. This theme's power comes from unified articulation and tight ensemble balance.
- Highlight the thematic developments in the fast section by subtly shifting dynamic emphasis when the melody passes between instrumental families. Conductors often overlook these handoffs, but they clarify the compositional logic for listeners and players alike.
- Use the transition back to the slower material (if present) as a moment to reset ensemble focus. Clean attacks and releases here signal that you're controlling the dreamscape, not drifting through it.
How to use it
Use this as a centerpiece in a concert exploring dreams, imagination, or flight as themes. It pairs well with contrasting lyrical or contemporary works, and its contest/festival designation makes it a natural choice for spring competitions. The dramatic contrast within the piece itself gives your program architecture without requiring an intermission.
Skills your students will build
- Controlling tempo and rubato in slow, exposed passages
- Executing clean articulation and rhythmic precision in the fast section
- Tracking thematic development across instrumental sections
- Managing dynamic contrast and phrasing over longer formal structures
- Balancing sparse textures in the opening with fuller ensemble writing in the development