Midnight on Main Street: E-flat Alto Saxophone 1
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 5
Item: 98-PC-DB1392_AX1
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Description
This imaginative work was conceived as the underscore to a fictional fireworks show. The opening section suggests the massive fireworks bursting in grand fashion as the music thrives on each explosion, feeding on energy in a frenzy of excitement. As one final firework explodes to blanket the sky in lights, the second section begins. This section is very impressionistic, depicting a stunning laser show with an array of colors and images. The final section is based on an infectious dance in 7/8 time. This musical celebration is both driving and playful, signifying the return of the fireworks. A coda section includes huge fanfares, forceful rhythms, and metallic sounds that welcome the grand finale while building to a dramatic conclusion. Absolutely amazing!
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Symphonic Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1392_AX1
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has built an international reputation composing across orchestral, band, and chamber idioms. His works have graced major concert halls including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House, performed by ensembles spanning 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. An elected member of the American Bandmasters Association, Balmages also holds the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Visual and Performing Arts.
As a conductor, Balmages maintains active guest engagements with all-state, regional, university, and professional ensembles worldwide. He has conducted at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, College Band Directors Conference, and numerous international venues. His commissions include music for the inauguration of the University of Miami's 6th president, and his works were performed during 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 captures the visceral excitement of a fireworks spectacular through orchestration and structure, making this ideal for concert programming or festival performance. The progression from pyrotechnic chaos through impressionistic color to the propulsive 7/8 dance keeps audiences engaged from downbeat to final fanfare. Grade 5 bands will find the mixed-meter writing both challenging and rewarding, with each section offering distinct technical and musical demands.
What to expect
A sensory rush that moves from explosive energy to shimmering wonder before settling into an irresistible groove. The 7/8 dance feels modern and playful, undercut by driving percussion and bold brass calls that build toward a spectacular finale.
Who it's for
Grade 5 concert bands seeking engaging festival repertoire that challenges rhythmic precision and section coordination. Directors looking for a crowd-pleasing program piece that showcases ensemble versatility across contrasting musical landscapes.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the opening section's layered textures so each explosion reads clearly despite the energetic frenzy. Separate the brass punctuations from the sustained undergrowth in woodwinds and mid-range voices.
- In the impressionistic laser section, treat dynamic shifts as color changes rather than emotional swells. Precision and clarity matter more than volume.
- Lock the ensemble firmly on the 7/8 dance rhythm before adding musical shape. This unusual meter requires unshakeable pulse from your section leaders.
- Build momentum steadily through the coda, treating the fanfares and metallic percussion as layered climactic events rather than one sustained peak.
How to use it
This work thrives as a program closer or second-half opener at concerts and festivals where you want to energize the audience. Its cinematic progression and dramatic arc make it particularly effective on a mixed program following chamber works or lyrical selections.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing mixed meters (7/8 against 4/4 backings)
- Articulation control across rapid, energetic passages
- Dynamic shaping and textural balance in polyphonic sections
- Section coordination during syncopated rhythmic figures
- Ensemble precision in rapidly changing tempos and styles