Atlantis Rising: Oboe
By Brian Balmages
Level:.5
Item: 00-PC-0019797_O1
$3.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
Dive into Atlantis Rising, an epic musical journey by Brian Balmages! Experience the serene underwater beauty, the thrilling awakening, and the triumphant return of a legendary city. Prepare to experience the awe and wonder of Atlantis reborn. (2:00)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Atlantis Rising: Oboe comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Open in the Player
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Start Your Free Trial
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series:
MakeMusic First Performance Band
Publisher:
MakeMusic Publications
SKU:
00-PC-0019797_O1
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has built a distinguished career composing and conducting across orchestral, band, and chamber music idioms. His works have premiered in major concert halls including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House, performed by ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to school groups. He holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association and received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association. His composition Love and Light won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest.
Balmages serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic. He maintains an active conducting schedule with all-state, university, and professional ensembles worldwide, and has appeared at major conferences including the Midwest Clinic and College Band Directors 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 for presidential inaugurations.
Why we love this
Atlantis Rising captures the essential appeal of early-level concert band writing: a narrative arc that unfolds clearly without oversimplifying the musical content. Balmages orchestrates the legend's three movements (serene underwater scenes, the dramatic awakening, triumphant emergence) with textures and dynamic shapes that hold student musicians' attention and give them something meaningful to express. At Level 0.5, this is accessible enough for developing bands while offering real musical substance that contests and festivals recognize.
What to expect
The piece unfolds like descending into an ancient world: cool, mysterious, and beautifully strange at first, then alive with wonder as the city awakens. The final section radiates triumph and majesty, a transformation from quiet contemplation to exultant celebration. Throughout, the music maintains a cinematic quality that invites listeners into the legend.
Who it's for
Beginning to intermediate concert bands seeking a program piece that tells a story with clear musical architecture. Directors looking for contest and festival material at accessible levels will find Atlantis Rising engaging for students and audiences alike. This work suits bands with developing musicianship who can handle sustained phrasing and tonal control in soft passages as well as energetic climaxes.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening underwater passages with careful dynamic control; resist rushing the slower sections, as the serenity depends on patience and ensemble balance rather than activity.
- Bring out the motivic elements that signal Atlantis awakening; mark your score to identify which sections carry the main themes so students understand how the musical drama builds.
- Balance the triumphant return against the memory of the opening; use dynamic contrast and tempo control to make the final section feel like arrival, not just loudness.
- Work the ensemble's rhythmic precision in transition passages, as clean articulation and rhythmic unity will clarify the narrative momentum between sections.
How to use it
Program Atlantis Rising as a centerpiece for a concert themed around myth, discovery, or transformation. Its two-minute duration makes it ideal as a statement piece in a mixed program, particularly effective when paired with contrasting styles or tempos. The contest and festival designation makes it well-suited for competitive performance while also serving as a rewarding addition to a regular concert set.
Skills your students will build
- Playing with sustained dynamic control across soft and loud passages
- Maintaining ensemble balance and intonation in exposed texture
- Executing smooth transitions between contrasting musical sections
- Interpreting narrative structure through phrasing and orchestration
- Reading and responding to conductor's expressive intent