Dreaming: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$70.00 USD

Dreaming: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Dreaming: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-ST6256
Price: 70.00 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 4

Item: 98-ST6256

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Indulge in an expression of true lyricism with this incredibly beautiful work about the tranquility of sleep. Melodies constantly weave in and out of each other as the work develops both melodically and harmonically. A stunning climax provides a powerful contrast to the opening and closing sections, which beckon listeners to close their eyes and let the musical fabrics of the piece envelop them. This is a stunning and powerful work with incredible expressive potential.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Dreaming: 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 String Orchestra

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 674398228911

SKU: 98-ST6256

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages composes across orchestral, band, and chamber genres, with performances that span from professional symphony orchestras to school ensembles in 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 for Love and Light, and membership in the American Bandmasters Association.

Balmages holds degrees from James Madison University and the University of Miami, institutions that have both recognized his contributions through distinguished alumni honors and commissioning opportunities. His guest conducting appearances include the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and numerous state and national conferences. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

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Why we love this

Balmages crafts an orchestration where lyrical ideas genuinely pass from voice to voice, creating a living musical conversation rather than sectional block harmony. The architecture builds toward a powerful climax that justifies the quiet restraint of the opening, giving students a tangible arc to shape rather than a static texture to maintain. This is exactly the kind of Grade 4 work that teaches expressive conducting while remaining gratifying to play.

What to expect

Dreaming unfolds like the gradual transition from wakefulness into sleep, with musical gestures floating in and out of focus. The opening invites stillness; the climax jolts you awake with orchestral power; the close lets you drift back into tranquility. Throughout, the strings sustain a lush, interconnected sound that rewards both individual voice clarity and ensemble blend.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the Grade 4 level working toward festival performances or seeking a substantial concert piece with genuine expressive range. Conductors who want to teach their students how melodic material shapes an entire composition will find this an ideal teaching score.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the interweaving melodic lines so listeners hear them as continuous phrases even when they migrate between sections. Avoid letting voice shifts sound like handing off a musical baton.
Differentiate the dynamic gradient leading into the climax with real precision. If the peak lands at the same volume as the rise, the contrast evaporates.
Use the return to the opening material as an opportunity for refinement. The second time through should feel more intimate, not simply quieter.

How to use it

This works beautifully as a concert closer or the emotional centerpiece of a program mixing lighter and more substantive works. Its contest-appropriate length and difficulty make it a logical choice for festival submissions while its intrinsic beauty ensures it translates well to any concert setting.

Skills your students will build

Following and responding to subtle conducting cues during soft, lyrical passages
Maintaining independent melodic lines while listening to other sections
Building dynamic intensity gradually over extended phrases
Balancing expressiveness with ensemble precision at the Grade 4 level