Fanfare Heroica: Oboe
By Brian Balmages
Level:.5
Item: 98-PC-DB1480_O1
$7.00
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Description
This evocative fanfare is part of the exciting Measures of Success® Performance Series and correlates with the very beginning of Book 1, Opus 3. Using limited ranges and no eighth notes in the winds, this is an ideal piece for first-year students. From the powerful opening statement to the inviting harmonic progressions that follow, you will be shocked that something this compelling can be so accessible to the youngest of students!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Fanfare Heroica: Oboe 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 Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1480_O1
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has established himself as a composer and conductor with an exceptionally broad reach across orchestral, band, and chamber music repertoires. His works have been commissioned and performed by ensembles ranging from elementary school groups to professional orchestras in some of the world's most prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House. He holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association and received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association for his contributions to the field.
Balmages brings deep experience as a guest conductor at major conferences and festivals, including the Midwest Clinic and College Band Directors Conference. His recent compositions have earned significant recognition, including a commission from the University of Miami for the presidential inauguration and performances at 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
Balmages understands exactly what first-year students can handle musically and what will excite them. The fanfare format gives young musicians an immediate sense of occasion and importance, while the accessibility (limited ranges, no eighth-note figures in the winds) means every section can contribute meaningfully from day one. It's the rare piece that doesn't feel dumbed-down even as it honors real pedagogical boundaries.
What to expect
The opening has genuine ceremonial weight, with a bold harmonic foundation that feels important and purposeful. As the piece unfolds, the harmonies become increasingly inviting and warm, creating a sense of forward momentum that pulls listeners in rather than dazzles them with technical display.
Who it's for
This piece is designed for first-year concert band students who are ready to perform something substantial but still need music that sits comfortably in their developing technical range. It works equally well for festival performance or the concert hall and serves as a confidence-builder for young musicians encountering fanfare style for the first time.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening statement with confidence from your winds; even though the range is modest, the character demands projection and clarity from the first note.
- Let the harmonic progressions breathe slightly as they unfold. A gentle tempo will allow students to hear how Balmages moves through the chords and will strengthen their sense of harmonic awareness.
- Balance the parts carefully so that secondary voices don't disappear. First-year students often play too softly in accompanying roles, so model the dynamic balance you want during rehearsal.
How to use it
Open a concert with this fanfare to establish a professional tone and give your first-year students a moment of real musical achievement early in the program. It also fits naturally into a festival schedule where you want to show growth and musicianship at an accessible level, or program it alongside other beginning-level works that share its quality and approachability.
Skills your students will build
- Ensemble balance and blend across the full band
- Phrasing within a limited pitch range
- Reading and executing a fanfare idiom
- Ensemble intonation in a harmonic context
- Sustained tone production in sustained melodic roles