Motion: F Horn 1
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 4.5
Item: 98-PC-DB1283_H1
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Description
Embark on a thrill ride that progresses through different stages of motion. Sections include Perpetual Motion; Locomotion (based on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway stationed in the town that commissioned the work), and Commotion. This final fugal section, based on a minor version of the opening theme, constantly builds and transforms as the work moves toward a fierce conclusion. Captivating!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Motion: F Horn 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 Concert Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1283_H1
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has built a career moving fluidly between orchestral, band, and chamber idioms, with his works reaching audiences from elementary school gyms to world-class venues like Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House. His accolades include the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest, and membership in the American Bandmasters Association. He was honored with the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award and later commissioned by the University of Miami to compose for the inauguration of its sixth president.
As a guest conductor, Balmages regularly works with all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras across North America and internationally, with notable appearances at the Midwest Clinic, College Band Directors Conference, and regional music conferences. His music has also been performed at significant national events, including the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service. Currently, he serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
Why we love this
Motion captures the kind of kinetic energy that makes a band sound alive. The three-movement architecture gives your students a clear narrative arc to sink their teeth into, and Balmages writes with enough textural variety that keeping players engaged through the fugal finale feels inevitable rather than forced.
What to expect
Motion is propulsive without being frantic. Each section has its own character: the first section is restless and driving, the second conjures the rhythmic momentum of a train moving through landscape, and the third unleashes controlled chaos as themes collide and rebuild toward a climax. The work leaves you breathless.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the 4.5 grade level with solid fundamentals and the stamina for an extended work. This is ideal for groups preparing for festival or contest competition where a single, cohesive piece can demonstrate musicianship and technical control.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the Perpetual Motion opening so the rhythmic propulsion feels inevitable, not mechanical; let the ensemble breathe together on the longer phrases beneath the surface activity.
- The Locomotion section rewards detailed program notes about the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, giving your audience entry into why this movement sounds the way it does.
- Balance clarity against momentum in the fugal section; the constant transformation works best when voices can be heard independently even as the texture thickens.
- Build the final push strategically across several rehearsals so the fierce conclusion doesn't feel rushed but earned.
How to use it
Program Motion as the centerpiece of a concert where you want to showcase your ensemble's ability to sustain energy and execute complex textures. It pairs well on a contest program where you need a single statement piece, and it works equally well as the anchor of a concert focused on contemporary American band music.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining rhythmic precision within syncopated textures
- Balance and independence in fugal writing
- Phrase architecture across sectional transformations
- Ensemble control during sustained accelerando passages
- Dynamic contrast and shaping over longer phrases