Escape from the Deep: Percussion 1
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 2.5
Item: 98-PC-DB1450_PC1
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Description
Commissioned by the same group that premiered Moscow, 1941, this incredible new work chronicles the World War II miracle involving the only Americans to ever escape from a sunken submarine. Beginning with dark chords and a military field drum, the music evokes thoughts of honor and integrity. As events unfold, tempo becomes much faster and dissonant lines emerge. Excerpts from America occur in various forms, first in adrenaline-packed moments, then in a brief moment of solitude and calm. The final burst of energy portrays the daring escape. An incredible portrayal of courage, leadership, sacrifice, and survival against all odds!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Escape from the Deep: Percussion 1 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-DB1450_PC1
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has established himself as a major voice in contemporary band, orchestral, and chamber music, with performances spanning from elementary school ensembles to professional orchestras at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Sydney Opera House. His honors 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 election to the American Bandmasters Association. He received the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award and was commissioned by the University of Miami to compose for the inauguration of its 6th president; his work has also been performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service.
As a conductor, Balmages maintains an active schedule of guest engagements with all-state and university ensembles worldwide, with notable appearances at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and international venues including Teatro dell'Aquila in Italy. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
Why we love this
Balmages brings dramatic storytelling and musical sophistication to a piece that works at Grade 2.5. The programmatic arc feels organic rather than forced: the opening military gravitas gives way to genuinely dissonant tension before incorporating America in ways that feel earned. Students and audiences alike respond to music that respects their intelligence and emotional range, and this piece delivers both without overreaching technically.
What to expect
Escape from the Deep unfolds like a dramatic film score. It opens in shadow, full of military authority and dread, then swells with urgency and dissonance as events intensify. The incorporation of America creates moments of profound humanity amid the chaos, before a final surge of defiant energy carries the ensemble through to triumph.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the Grade 2.5 level seeking a narrative-driven piece that challenges ensemble musicality and balance without technical overload. Directors programming contest or festival repertoire will find a work that showcases band sound across multiple musical moods while engaging both performers and listeners with a compelling historical story.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the opening dark chords and field drum so the percussion establishes an ominous foundation without drowning the harmonic colors emerging in the woodwinds and brass.
- Shape the tempo transition carefully. The shift from slower, deliberate material to the faster, adrenaline-filled sections needs clear preparation and conviction from the podium.
- The quotations from America carry programmatic weight. Bring out these phrases distinctly in whichever section carries them; resist the urge to blend them into the texture.
- Give the brief moment of solitude and calm genuine space to breathe. This contrast makes the final burst of energy land with maximum impact.
How to use it
This piece anchors a concert themed around historical narratives or American stories, pairing well with other programmatic works that resonate emotionally without becoming maudlin. It also serves as a strong contest or festival selection for bands seeking to demonstrate musicianship and storytelling at an accessible level.
Skills your students will build
- Balance and blend across multiple dynamic layers and instrumental choirs
- Executing sudden tempo changes and maintaining ensemble cohesion through transitions
- Shaping melodic phrases and recognizing thematic material across different voicings and arrangements
- Reading and performing dissonant harmonic language with confidence
- Responding to programmatic intent through careful attention to articulation, dynamics, and tone color