Kilauea (The Volcano's Fury): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
The Volcano's Fury
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 1.5
Item: 98-DB1256
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Description
Simple aleatoric passages help recreate the effect of an erupting volcano in this powerful yet extremely playable composition. Using bass drum to suggest the groaning of the volcano, the lyrical opening foreshadows the wildness of the eruption, and in transition, students play any notes and rhythms desired. As the lava begins to flow, a cacaphonous ostinato appears over a menacing theme in the trumpets and low voices. In addition to the regular part, an optional advanced snare drum part is included for accomplished percussionists.
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Developing Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DB1256
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has established himself as a composer and conductor whose work spans orchestral, band, and chamber repertoires with equal facility. His compositions have been performed by professional symphony orchestras and school ensembles alike in venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House, and he holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association. He received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association and won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest. His music was performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service, and he has been commissioned by institutions including the University of Miami for significant ceremonial occasions.
As a conductor, Balmages maintains an active guest conducting schedule with all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras worldwide, with notable appearances at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and numerous conferences. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
Why we love this
Balmages captures the raw energy of a volcanic eruption without overwhelming young players. The aleatoric passages feel compositionally sophisticated yet remain accessible at Grade 1.5, and the optional advanced snare drum part gives your accomplished percussionists meaningful material while keeping the core ensemble playable.
What to expect
The piece begins with quiet, groaning unease before erupting into controlled chaos. Layered textures collide, creating a visceral sense of natural power unleashed, then gradually settle into a cacophonous yet purposeful climax.
Who it's for
Grade 1.5 concert bands looking for festival or contest material with genuine dramatic impact. Directors want pieces that sound ambitious and engaging without requiring advanced technical facility across the full ensemble.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the lyrical opening with sustained phrasing to make the contrast with the eruption immediately striking when the aleatoric section begins.
- During the aleatoric passages, establish a clear conducting gesture that brings the group back together. Visual focus matters more than traditional metric precision here.
- Highlight the bass drum's role early in rehearsal. Its groaning foundation grounds the piece even as other sections explore their freedom in the aleatoric sections.
- Balance the menacing trumpet theme and low voice ostinato carefully. The theme should cut through without drowning out the textural foundation beneath it.
How to use it
Program this as a festival or contest selection where a single dramatic work can anchor a short concert or competition entry. It also works well as a thematic concert centerpiece, pairing naturally with other programmatic or nature-inspired works.
Skills your students will build
- Aleatoric performance and ensemble awareness without fixed rhythmic coordination
- Musical interpretation of programmatic intent through dynamic and textural contrast
- Sustained phrasing in legato passages and control during rapid textural shifts
- Ensemble listening across simultaneous independent lines