Fanfare on a Theme of Imagination: E-flat Baritone Saxophone
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 1
Item: 98-PC-DB1619_BTX
$7.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
“Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” This powerful quote by Albert Einstein provides the inspiration behind this fanfare that celebrates creativity in schools. A majestic opening leads into a dynamic and fast-paced section that continues to build in energy until the final massive series of chordal statements. Powerful and inspiring!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Fanfare on a Theme of Imagination: E-flat Baritone Saxophone comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Open in the Player
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Start Your Free Trial
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
FJH Beginning Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1619_BTX
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has established himself as a composer and conductor whose work crosses orchestral, band, and chamber music with equal fluency. His compositions have reached audiences worldwide, from professional symphony orchestras to elementary school ensembles, performed in venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House. He received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association and won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for Love and Light. Balmages holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association and received the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Visual and Performing Arts.
As a conductor, Balmages maintains active relationships with all-state and regional ensembles as well as university and professional orchestras internationally. His guest conducting credits span the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, Maryborough Music Conference, and numerous state music education conferences. He also served as a commissioned composer for the University of Miami's presidential inauguration and contributed music to the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service. Currently, he directs MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
Why we love this
Balmages understands what Grade 1 bands need: immediate accessibility without sacrificing musical substance or excitement. The progression from majestic opening to driving energy gives students a genuine emotional arc to perform, making this rewarding for both young players discovering their voices and directors looking for festival material with real impact.
What to expect
The piece opens with stately grandeur before shifting into a propulsive, energetic drive that builds momentum with each phrase. The final barrage of chords lands with force and purpose, leaving audiences with an impression of power and celebration.
Who it's for
This fanfare reaches Grade 1 concert bands ready to tackle material with dramatic scope and structural clarity. It works equally well for festival competitions and concert programs where you want to showcase your ensemble's growing musicality and technical control.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening fanfare with deliberate articulation; allow the majestic quality to breathe rather than rushing through it.
- Balance the ensemble carefully as energy builds toward the final chordal statements; younger players often lose their sense of blend when excitement peaks.
- Drill the transition between the stately introduction and the fast-paced section so students shift their character cleanly without losing rhythmic precision.
- Emphasize dynamic contrast in the closing chordal statements; these moments define the overall impact of the piece.
How to use it
Use this as an opening number on a concert or festival performance to establish energy and confidence early. Its inspiring thematic connection to Einstein's quote about imagination also pairs well with concert programs built around themes of creativity, learning, or school pride.
Skills your students will build
- Control of sustained tones and dynamic contrast in fanfare sections
- Executing clean style transitions from stately to energetic tempos
- Ensemble balance and blend while managing crescendos
- Secure rhythmic precision in syncopated and fast-paced passages
- Phrasing and articulation choices that shape musical character