Kyiv, 2022: 1st Percussion
(A Sequel to Moscow, 1941)
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 2.5
Item: 00-PC-0019176_PC1
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Description
Now in ColorFlex format for groups with limited instrumentation! Kyiv, 2022 was written as a powerful sequel to Moscow, 1941, one of Brian Balmages's most well-known pieces. This work changes the narrative, where the theme from Moscow now becomes the aggressor, and the heroic people of Ukraine are represented by the Ukrainian National Anthem and the powerful "Prayer for Ukraine." Certain to spark discussions about humanity, history, and culture. (4:30)
About ColorFlex
Conductors no longer need to choose between function and texture! Ensembles with instrumentation challenges still have numerous options to cover all parts, yet orchestration is elevated significantly to be faithful to the composer's original intent. Musicians have more opportunities to rest, and timbre once again becomes a central element of each work. So go ahead and have the best of both worlds: flexible and colorful.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Kyiv, 2022: 1st Percussion 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 Young Band
Publisher:
MakeMusic Publications
SKU:
00-PC-0019176_PC1
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has built an international reputation as a composer and conductor working across orchestral, band, and chamber idioms. His works have been heard in premier venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Sydney Opera House, performed by ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to school groups. 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. An elected member of the American Bandmasters Association, he was also honored with the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award.
Balmages serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic. His guest conducting engagements span all-state and regional ensembles, university and professional orchestras, and prestigious conferences worldwide including the Midwest Clinic and College Band Directors Conference. His music was performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service attended by President Obama and Vice President Biden, and he was commissioned by the University of Miami to compose for the inauguration of its sixth president.
Why we love this
Kyiv, 2022 transforms the familiar Moscow, 1941 theme into a profound statement about historical perspective and heroic resistance. The ColorFlex format solves real instrumentation challenges without sacrificing orchestral color or compositional intent, giving your students genuine musical roles to play rather than doubled parts. This is programming material that moves audiences and creates teachable moments about global events, history, and the power of music to represent human experience.
What to expect
Kyiv, 2022 opens with ominous transformation, taking a melody your students may already know from Moscow, 1941 and inverting its meaning into something threatening. The music then builds toward statements of resilience and national pride through the Ukrainian National Anthem and Prayer for Ukraine, creating a powerful emotional arc that moves from darkness toward affirmation.
Who it's for
This work is designed for developing concert bands (Grade 2.5) that want to tackle meaningful programmatic music without extensive instrumentation demands. Directors seeking repertoire with educational value beyond technical skill will find a piece that generates conversations about history, culture, and the role of music in society.
How to get the most out of it
- Study the dramatic arc carefully. The shift from the Moscow theme as aggressor to the Ukrainian national anthem represents a complete narrative reversal. Help your students understand this transformation so they play with appropriate character in each section.
- Balance the Ukrainian National Anthem and Prayer for Ukraine materials with clarity. These thematic ideas carry the emotional weight of the piece, so articulation and dynamics must be precise and communicated across all sections.
- Use the ColorFlex instrumentation options strategically. Assign primary thematic material to your strongest players where possible, and take advantage of rest opportunities to refresh musicians for high-impact moments.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece for a concert exploring music and global events, or pair it with Moscow, 1941 to create a thematic pairing that demonstrates how composers use musical language to comment on history. The four and a half minute duration and programmatic nature make it excellent for youth band festivals or concerts where you want to spark audience engagement and discussion.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing dramatic shifts in character and dynamics
- Recognizing and performing thematic development and transformation
- Balancing sectional color and clarity in programmatic contexts
- Flexible instrumentation reading (understanding ColorFlex part assignments)