Lullaby to the Moon: F Horn
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 2.5
Item: 98-PC-DB1653_H1
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Description
Many fictional works portray the moon as a living being, alone in space looking at the Earth. This lullaby honors this "living moon," portraying various emotions including the loneliness of seeing us from space. It also includes moments of comfort as the moon proudly watches over us, much as a parent watches over a child. Simply stunning, whether you have a grade 2 or a grade 6 ensemble.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Lullaby to the Moon: F Horn 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:
FJH Young Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1653_H1
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has built a career as a composer and conductor whose work spans orchestral, band, and chamber music with equal fluency. His compositions have reached stages from Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center to the Sydney Opera House and beyond, performed by ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to elementary school groups. He holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association and received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, along with the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest award for Love and Light.
As a guest conductor, Balmages regularly leads all-state and regional ensembles, university orchestras, and professional groups worldwide, with notable appearances at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and the College Band Directors Conference. His music has been performed at significant national events, including the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
Why we love this
Balmages creates music that speaks to young musicians without simplifying the emotional content. The narrative of a solitary moon watching over Earth gives students something meaningful to understand and portray, and the piece delivers genuine lyricism at a grade 2.5 level where such craftsmanship is rare. Contest and festival programmers will appreciate a work that's equally effective for developing ensembles and more polished groups.
What to expect
Balmages creates an atmosphere of quiet wonder and reflective beauty. The piece moves between moments of isolation and protective warmth, with orchestration that draws the listener into the moon's perspective looking down at Earth below. The writing feels intimate despite the full band texture, creating space for both vulnerability and quiet pride.
Who it's for
Bands at the upper elementary or early middle school level seeking repertoire with emotional depth and genuine artistic merit. This is equally suited to groups preparing for festival or concert programming, offering material that rewards focused rehearsal without excessive technical demands.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the melodic lines with a parent's tenderness rather than relying solely on dynamic markings. Let the band hear how the moon's perspective shifts from lonely to protective.
- Balance the inner voices carefully in the harmonic moments. At this grade level, ensemble sections may need reminding that supporting notes matter as much as the melody.
- Take time in rehearsal to discuss the program's narrative before diving into technical work. Students who understand the emotional arc will make better interpretive choices.
How to use it
Place this as a contrasting centerpiece in a concert program, pairing it with more energetic or dramatic works to showcase your band's range. It works particularly well as a festival selection where the combination of accessible instrumentation and mature musical content can impress adjudicators.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining long melodic phrases with consistent tone and phrasing
- Balancing melody and harmonic support within an ensemble texture
- Expressing emotional nuance through dynamics and articulation
- Interpreting program music and translating narrative intent into sound