Burst!: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 1.5
Item: 98-DST6235
$50.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Burst!: Score | $10.00 | |
| Burst!: Violin 1 | $7.00 | |
| Burst!: Violin 2 (Viola T.C.) | $7.00 | |
| Burst!: Viola | $7.00 | |
| Burst!: Violoncello | $7.00 | |
| Burst!: Double Bass | $7.00 | |
| Burst!: Piano | $7.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Open your concert with an explosion of energy! This aggressive work will immediately command your audience's attention as it combines bold and powerful lines with moments of delicacy and lyricism. Violin players are introduced to the G string and get to explore limited divisi. An outstanding concert opener!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Burst!: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts 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 Strings
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DST6235
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages maintains an active career as both composer and conductor, with commissions and performances spanning orchestral, band, and chamber music across the globe. His work has graced stages including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House, reaching audiences from professional symphony orchestras to elementary school ensembles. He holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association and received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, along with first place in the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest.
Balmages has conducted all-state and regional ensembles as well as university and professional orchestras throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. His compositions have been performed at significant national events, including the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
Why we love this
This piece gives you exactly what a string orchestra concert opener needs: immediate impact paired with musical substance. The careful balance between aggressive, attention-grabbing material and lyrical passages keeps the work engaging rather than purely showy, and Balmages' Grade 1.5 scoring means your ensemble plays something genuinely good sounding, not simplified.
What to expect
The piece explodes onto the stage with bold, driving energy that commands attention instantly. Beneath the aggressive exterior lie moments of surprising lyrical beauty that give your players room to breathe and express musical depth.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the Grade 1.5 level who need a concert opener with genuine compositional voice rather than generic filler. Directors preparing groups for festivals or contests will find this especially useful, as it showcases developing skills without relying on simple repetition.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening with clear dynamic contrast and articulation to establish the aggressive character from the first note; avoid letting power become muddy.
- Support violinists as they transition to G string work by allowing rehearsal time specifically for tone quality and intonation on the lower string.
- Balance the divisi passages by ensuring each stand has secure parts before adding full ensemble texture; this prevents the delicate moments from collapsing.
- Consider tempo stability as your primary tool for maintaining energy; rushing diminishes the aggressive impact and unsettles younger players.
How to use it
Open your concert or festival performance with this work to establish energy and sophistication from the opening downbeat. The dramatic contrast between its powerful passages and lyrical sections also makes it an effective bookend when paired with a gentler work later in your program.
Skills your students will build
- Playing on the G string with secure intonation and tone quality
- Reading and executing divisi parts with clear voice independence
- Balancing aggressive, marcato articulation with dynamic control
- Responding to rapid changes between bold and lyrical character
- Ensemble rhythmic precision in driving, energetic material