Haunted Clocks: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$60.00 USD

Haunted Clocks: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Haunted Clocks: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1576
Price: 60.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 1.5

Item: 98-B1576

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One moment…

Simple aleatoric devices and clever effects combine to tell the story of a haunted clock factory and its mischievous inhabitants. Beginning with the sound of a single clock, additional clocks seemingly come to life and join in, creating a chorus of clock effects including wind-up, grandfather and cuckoo clocks. The Dies Irae is presented throughout in various altered versions, adding to the somewhat diabolical nature of the scene. Extremely unique and inventive!

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Haunted Clocks: Concert Band 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 Developing Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

SKU: 98-B1576

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages has built a career that moves fluidly between orchestral, band, and chamber writing, earning commissions and performances from Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center to the Sydney Opera House. His achievements 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 has conducted all-state ensembles, university orchestras, and professional groups across the globe, with guest appearances at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and numerous international venues.

Balmages received the inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award from James Madison University's School of Visual and Performing Arts and was later commissioned by the University of Miami to compose for the presidential inauguration of Dr. Julio Frenk. His work has been performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service and continues to reach audiences from professional orchestras down to elementary school programs. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

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Why we love this

Haunted Clocks delivers programmatic storytelling that Grade 1.5 ensembles can actually execute convincingly, which is rare in pieces at this level. The aleatoric effects feel intentional rather than gimmicky, and the recurring Dies Irae motif gives the band something musically substantial to anchor the theatrical elements. Students get to create genuine sonic atmosphere while building technique in a piece that never feels like a stepping stone.

What to expect

Quirky, mechanical, and slightly eerie, imagine stepping into a clock factory where the merchandise has woken up and is telling stories in its own ticking language. The Dies Irae woven throughout adds an undertone of mischief, as if the clocks are playing a gentle prank rather than threatening something sinister.

Who it's for

Young concert bands ready for a piece that combines musical learning with creative problem-solving. Ensembles comfortable with unconventional notation and willing to rehearse aleatoric effects will find this both manageable and genuinely rewarding.

How to get the most out of it

Establish clear visual cues for the clock effects during rehearsal. Mark exactly when each clock "comes to life" so the entries feel coordinated rather than chaotic.
Balance the Dies Irae statements carefully across the ensemble so the transformation from familiar hymn tune to "diabolical" feels intentional. Experiment with different sections taking the lead.
Encourage players to listen actively to the clock effects around them. This piece asks for genuine ensemble awareness rather than just playing their own part in isolation.
Record a run-through early and play it back for the band. Hearing the full texture often clarifies which clock effects are reading well and which need adjustment in entrances or dynamics.

How to use it

Schedule this as a concert opener or early-program number where it can grab attention and set a playful tone. It pairs well alongside other Grade 1.5 pieces in a young band concert where you want to showcase both musicianship and personality, or use it as a contest selection where the originality and strong writing will stand out.