Creatures: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$55.00 USD

Creatures: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Creatures: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-ST6144
Price: 55.00 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 2

Item: 98-ST6144

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A dark and sinister night full of strange happenings and ghoulish encounters.... So describes this haunting work by Brian Balmages, perfect for any concert, especially in the fall. Opening with a menacing march as creatures emerge from the darkness, the mischief unfolds. Dissonances in upper strings add to the chaos before the audience hears footsteps in retreat of the coming dawn. A wonderful vehicle for introducing aleatoric music to students in a fun and creative way!

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Creatures: 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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Series: FJH Developing Strings

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 674398222810

SKU: 98-ST6144

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages has built a career moving fluidly between orchestral, band, and chamber music, earning commissions and performances across the world's most prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House. His accolades include the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest, and membership in the American Bandmasters Association. He has conducted all-state ensembles, university orchestras, and professional groups on multiple continents, and his music was performed during the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service.

Balmages currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic. His work spans from elementary school repertoire to advanced compositions, consistently balancing accessibility with musical substance. He is a James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and was commissioned by the University of Miami to compose for the inauguration of the institution's 6th president.

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Why we love this

Creatures delivers Halloween programming that doesn't rely on obvious tricks. The aleatoric writing feels genuinely theatrical rather than gimmicky, giving students a real introduction to controlled chance music while staying within Grade 2 technical boundaries. Programming this opens doors to discussion about tone color, ensemble balance, and visual effects without demanding virtuosity.

What to expect

A theatrical journey through darkness and mischief. The opening march feels deliberately ominous, and the upper string dissonances create genuine unease before shifting into the quiet footsteps of retreat. There's humor in the construction without being cartoonish.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the Grade 2 level looking for fall concert repertoire that balances entertainment value with genuine musical learning. This works equally well for festival competition and Halloween-themed concerts where you want substance beneath the seasonal appeal.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the march character in early rehearsals with a clear pulse and uniform articulation; the menace emerges from precision, not tempo rushing.
Encourage violins to listen closely during the dissonant upper string sections so the chaos feels coordinated rather than chaotic.
Use the aleatoric passages as a chance to reinforce gesture communication; conductor cues become essential when individual players have rhythmic freedom.
Shape the retreat section with a natural diminuendo and slight ritardando to underline the dawn's arrival and the creatures' escape.

How to use it

Pair this with more traditional concert fare to add color and contemporary voice to a fall program. It works particularly well as a closer or as a transition piece between serious repertoire and lighter selections, giving audiences a chance to smile before intermission.