Metal Bell Carol: Drumset 1
Arranged by Brian Balmages
Grade: 3
Item: 00-PC-0019856_D1
$3.00
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Description
Hold onto your seats with this explosive, heavy metal-inspired holiday spectacular! Metal Bell Carol by Brian Balmages uses original material interwoven with "Ukrainian Bell Carol" and hints of "We Three Kings." Using optional electric guitar and bass, this work is destined to be the ultimate closer for holiday programs everywhere! Highlight student talent, or bring in a faculty member or your local guitar hero, to do some shredding! (3:15)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Metal Bell Carol: Drumset 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:
MakeMusic Full Orchestra
Publisher:
MakeMusic Publications
SKU:
00-PC-0019856_D1
More about this title
About the Arranger: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has established himself as a composer and arranger whose work crosses orchestral, band, and chamber music with equal fluency. His compositions have been premiered and performed by ensembles ranging from elementary school orchestras to professional symphony orchestras in major venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House.
Balmages is a recipient of the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association and won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest. He holds the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award and was commissioned by the University of Miami to compose music for the inauguration of its 6th president. His work was performed as part of the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service. As a conductor, he regularly guests with all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras worldwide. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
Why we love this
Balmages nails the balance between accessibility and entertainment here. Grade 3 orchestras can play this convincingly without years of specialized technique, yet the heavy metal energy and optional electric guitar make it genuinely exciting for your students to perform and audiences to hear. It's the kind of closer that gets a real reaction.
What to expect
Heavy metal meets holiday tradition. The piece roars with distorted guitars and driving rhythms, then pulls back to let recognizable carol melodies shine through before building back to full spectacle. It's irreverent and fun without losing the warmth of the season.
Who it's for
Full orchestras at the Grade 3 level looking to program a high-energy holiday closer that appeals to both student performers and audiences. It works especially well for ensembles with strong percussionists and access to an electric guitarist, though the piece remains effective without them.
How to get the most out of it
- Nail the rhythmic precision in the electric guitar and bass lines; they're the backbone of the metal character, and slight rushes or drags will undermine the drive.
- If you don't have a student guitarist comfortable with the part, the piece works without it, but enlisting a strong player or faculty member transforms the energy considerably.
- Balance the 'Ukrainian Bell Carol' and 'We Three Kings' moments so they land distinctly; these familiar melodic anchors need clarity against the original material.
- The tempo should feel locked and powerful rather than rushed; a steady hand from the rhythm section keeps the full ensemble grounded.
How to use it
Program this as a finale to your holiday concert to send the audience out energized and smiling. Its high entertainment value makes it ideal for the last number on the second half, and the optional instrumentation lets you feature solo talent or guest performers if you want to make it a special moment.
Skills your students will build
- Rhythmic precision in syncopated and driving patterns
- Balance of lyrical melody against rhythmic accompaniment
- Ensemble coordination with optional electric guitar and bass parts
- Reading and executing sudden dynamic shifts and articulation changes
- Performing borrowed melodies ('Ukrainian Bell Carol', 'We Three Kings') within a contemporary harmonic context