Little Critters: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$45.00 USD

Little Critters: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Little Critters: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-ST6512
Price: 45.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 1

Item: 98-ST6512

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One moment…

The vivid imagery of "little critters" scurrying about at night inspires the melodic lines and creative harmonies used throughout this programmatic work. Beginning soft and mischievous, the music builds as new critters join the fun in a playful dialogue. The harmonic language moves between moments of pleasant consonance and slight dissonance (because as we all know, some people love little critters and some people are terrified of them!). A highly imaginative, playable work!

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Series: FJH Beginning Strings

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 241444420072

SKU: 98-ST6512

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages has built a career spanning orchestral, band, and chamber music at the highest levels. His compositions have graced stages from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House, performed by everyone from professional symphony orchestras to elementary school ensembles. 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.

Beyond the concert hall, Balmages conducts regularly with all-state and regional ensembles while serving as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic. His work was performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service, and he has held guest conducting positions at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and numerous state ASTA conferences. He is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association and holds the James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Visual and Performing Arts.

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Why we love this

Balmages brings theatrical storytelling to a Grade 1 ensemble without resorting to oversimplification. The harmonic palette shifts thoughtfully between consonance and dissonance, giving players the chance to hear how musical contrast creates character and narrative. It's the kind of piece that teaches ensemble balance and phrasing while keeping every stand engaged and invested in the program.

What to expect

Picture nighttime in miniature: small creatures darting across the floor, their movements playful and slightly unsettling depending on where you sit in the audience. The music captures that duality, shifting between moments of pure delight and subtle unease as harmonies shimmer and shift. It's whimsical without being precious.

Who it's for

This works beautifully for first-year string orchestras ready to move beyond technical etudes into storytelling. It fits programs aiming to connect younger players with programmatic music and imaginative composition without overwhelming them technically.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the opening soft entrance carefully; the mischief comes from precise ensemble control, not dynamics alone. Let the music whisper before the critters emerge.
Mark the transitions where new critters join in. These orchestration shifts need clarity so the dialogue stays playful rather than muddy.
Balance the dissonant moments without apology. Slight tension is intentional and makes the consonant passages land with purpose.
Encourage string players to think of character in each line. Even in a Grade 1 piece, small musical choices transform notes into a living scene.

How to use it

Pair this with other character pieces in a "Nature and Imagination" concert to show how strings can paint vivid scenes. It makes an ideal closer for a first-semester concert, offering audiences something memorable and accessible while demonstrating your ensemble's growth in articulation and balance.