Jungle Dance: Percussion 1
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 2.5
Item: 98-PC-DB1476_PC1
$7.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
This captivating musical celebration portrays the strong energy of all life in a jungle. The piece cleverly uses a melody that never changes throughout the entire work - rather, all the surrounding harmonies and textures constantly evolve as the music develops. Ultimately, the melody is layered on top of itself numerous times along with the countermelodies that have been heard throughout the work. A large battery of percussion completes the orchestration in a work that is certain to impress. Captivating!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Jungle Dance: Percussion 1 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 Young Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1476_PC1
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has built an international reputation composing across orchestral, band, and chamber idioms. His works have been performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Sydney Opera House, and the Toronto Centre for the Arts, reaching audiences from professional orchestras to elementary school ensembles. He is a recipient of the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for Love and Light, and holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association.
As a guest conductor, Balmages regularly leads all-state and regional ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras worldwide, appearing at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and numerous state and national conferences. He was awarded the 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 music for the inauguration of the institution's sixth president. His music was performed during the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service. Currently, he serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
Why we love this
Balmages constructs this piece around a single, relentless melody that becomes the through-line while everything around it transforms, which teaches your band to listen to orchestration rather than cling to familiar harmonic progressions. The layering of melody and countermelody creates dramatic textural peaks that build naturally, giving your students concrete ears-on experience with how orchestration creates intensity without constantly changing the fundamental material. At grade 2.5, the writing is clean and playable across your full instrumentation without sacrificing sophistication.
What to expect
Vibrant jungle rhythms pulse underneath a melody that threads through constantly shifting harmonies and textures, building from spare, focused writing toward lush layered statements where the same tune appears simultaneously in multiple registers. The percussion work adds primal energy and movement that propels the entire piece forward with conviction.
Who it's for
Directors programming a grade 2.5 concert band who want a high-energy, percussion-rich piece that holds student attention while teaching orchestration concepts. This works especially well for bands seeking contest or festival repertoire with distinctive character and strong audience appeal.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the constant melody so it sings over evolving harmonies; mark individual parts so players understand whether they're supporting, accompanying, or adding countermelody in each section.
- Rehearse the expanded percussion battery separately at first, then map out how rhythm section and battery interact to establish the jungle's pulsing energy.
- Map the melodic layering passages in score study so you know exactly when the melody reappears in new instruments; conduct these transitions clearly to maintain ensemble cohesion as the texture densifies.
How to use it
This energetic work pairs well with more subdued or lyrical selections on the same concert, offering a jolt of color and momentum that audiences remember. The strong percussion writing and multicultural energy make it an excellent choice for spring concert programming or festival competitions where you want your band to stand out.
Skills your students will build
- Listening across texture layers while maintaining individual part independence
- Balancing melody against evolving harmonic and countermelodic accompaniment
- Coordinating rhythm section and expanded percussion writing
- Understanding orchestration as a tool for creating development without changing underlying material