Five Note Fiddler: Score
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 0.5
Item: 00-PR-0007493
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Description
Based entirely on just five notes (D through A), Five Note Fiddler is an ideal way to reinforce the D tetrachord while having a ton of fun in a fiddle-inspired setting. Brian Balmages playfully weaves the melody throughout the ensemble as the music unfolds. Surprisingly sophisticated in sound, yet highly approachable! (1:15)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Five Note Fiddler: Score 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:
MakeMusic Developing Strings
Publisher:
MakeMusic Publications
SKU:
00-PR-0007493
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages writes for orchestral, band, and chamber ensembles with equal fluency, and his works have reached audiences in Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Sydney Opera House, and countless school auditoriums worldwide. He has received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest, and holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association. His music was performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service and commissioned for the inauguration of the University of Miami's sixth president.
As a conductor, Balmages leads all-state and regional ensembles, university orchestras, and professional groups across the globe. He serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic, and has held faculty positions at James Madison University and the University of Miami.
Why we love this
Balmages has crafted something genuinely rare: a piece that sounds polished and engaging while remaining utterly transparent in its construction. The fiddle-inspired writing keeps students motivated through a familiar folk aesthetic, yet the deliberate constraint of five notes creates a perfect teaching tool. String orchestras at this level rarely get material this approachable that still registers as genuine music.
What to expect
Five Note Fiddler bounces with the energy of a folk dance, playful and unpretentious. The melody skips and darts across the ensemble like musicians passing a tune around a campfire, while the harmonic palette stays bright and singable throughout.
Who it's for
This is ideal for elementary and early middle school string orchestras building foundational intonation and ensemble balance. It works especially well for programs reinforcing the D tetrachord or preparing students for fiddle-based repertoire without overwhelming them technically.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the melody bounce from section to section as written rather than smoothing it into legato lines. The fiddle character lives in those quick transfers between instruments.
- Keep the accompaniment light and rhythmically alive. This is about dance, not drama, so avoid weighted, slow vibrato that would blur the D tetrachord clarity.
- Use the rhythmic precision of the ensemble to define the phrase shapes. Even at grade 0.5, young players can understand "this measure questions, the next answers" when the timing is clean.
How to use it
Program this early in the concert to set a joyful tone, or pair it with other accessible string repertoire in a "foundations" showcase. Its brief length (1:15) and contest/festival designation also make it excellent for ensemble festivals or as a confidence builder before attempting larger works.
Skills your students will build
- Intonation of the D tetrachord (D, E, F#, G, A)
- Passing melodic lines between sections with rhythmic accuracy
- Light bow control and rhythmic clarity in fiddle-style articulation
- Listening for balance when the melody migrates between instruments