Medieval Wars (Prelude, Tournament, and Ceremony): Violin 1
Prelude, Tournament, and Ceremony
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 2
Item: 98-PC-DST6122_VN1
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Description
Immerse yourself in the popular tournaments of the Middle Ages, when knights would compete against each other in tests of will, strength, and agility in the name of honor. The dark opening sets the stage for the entry of the knights, who ride into the stadium with a noble theme over pulsating lower strings. As the tournament begins, the music becomes aggressive and driving, drawing everyone into the action. The final ceremony crowns our champion and brings the music to a magnificent and regal finale!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Medieval Wars (Prelude, Tournament, and Ceremony): Violin 1 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 Developing Strings
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DST6122_VN1
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has established himself as a composer and conductor working across orchestral, band, and chamber idioms with equal facility. His works have reached audiences in venues ranging from Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center to the Sydney Opera House, performed by ensembles spanning from professional symphony orchestras to school groups. He holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association and has 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.
Balmages serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic. His conducting engagements include regular appearances at all-state and regional festivals, university ensembles, and professional orchestras worldwide. He has also been commissioned to compose for significant institutional events, including music for a university presidential inauguration, and his work was performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service.
Why we love this
Grade 2 string orchestras need programmatic works that engage players without overwhelming them technically, and Medieval Wars delivers exactly that. Balmages structures the piece with three distinct sections that give students clear narrative anchors and musical contrast within a manageable skill level, keeping everyone invested from dark opening through triumphant finale.
What to expect
Medieval Wars sweeps you into a tournament grounds where tension builds from brooding anticipation to fierce competition. The music rises and falls with the action, culminating in a grand coronation that feels earned and celebratory rather than empty spectacle.
Who it's for
String orchestra conductors teaching Grade 2 ensembles who want to program a piece with genuine narrative arc and character without requiring advanced technique. This work appeals to musicians who respond to storytelling and those just beginning to understand how music can paint a scene.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening's dark atmosphere by having lower strings establish the pulsating foundation before upper strings enter with the knights' noble theme; clarity of this layering makes the music feel grounded and dramatic.
- During the tournament section, encourage articulation that matches the aggressive driving character without sacrificing intonation; even at Grade 2, precise attacks bring the action into focus.
- Balance the final ceremony carefully so the regal conclusion doesn't overshadow the journey that precedes it; the most magnificent moment comes when earned through the arc you've built.
How to use it
Program this as a full concert piece with intermission appeal for young musicians and family audiences alike. The three-movement structure also works well alongside contrasting lyrical or light repertoire, where Medieval Wars anchors the second half with dramatic weight.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing articulation patterns (staccato and legato) that define character
- Maintaining rhythmic precision and ensemble unity through repeated driving patterns
- Responding to dynamic and textural contrast across three distinct sections
- Balancing melody and accompaniment when the noble theme enters over pulsating lower strings