Perpetual Fiddle Motion: Viola
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 2.5
Item: 98-PC-DST6365_VA1
$7.00
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Description
Here is a barnburner that will bring down the house and then some! Combining the joy of fiddle music with the thrill of perpetual motion, this high-speed rush captures the authentic feel of Appalachian folk music while adding quite a few twists. One listen and you will understand why this will undoubtedly be the hit of your next concert. Hold on!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Perpetual Fiddle Motion: Viola 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-DST6365_VA1
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 at the highest levels. His works have been commissioned and performed by professional ensembles, university groups, and school orchestras in major venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House. He received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association and won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest. His music was performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service attended by President Obama and Vice President Biden.
Balmages holds degrees from James Madison University and the University of Miami, institutions that have honored him with distinguished alumni and commissioning recognition. As a guest conductor, he regularly works with all-state ensembles, university orchestras, and professional groups across North America and internationally. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
Why we love this
Balmages captures the spirit of Appalachian fiddling without sentimentality, pairing driving rhythmic energy with compositional sophistication that keeps players engaged at every level. The piece builds genuine excitement in a concert context while remaining accessible to young orchestras, making it an ideal closer that audiences will remember. The arrangement honors folk idioms while the orchestration itself is the main event, not an afterthought.
What to expect
A relentless, gleeful sprint through fiddle country, full of infectious momentum and surprising harmonic turns. The piece evokes both the raw vitality of traditional Appalachian music and the satisfaction of young orchestras pulling off something thrilling together.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the intermediate level seeking a high-energy concert piece that combines folk authenticity with contemporary compositional craft. Young players eager to explore fiddle idioms and rhythmic drive will find this both musically rewarding and fun to perform.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the tempo confidently before the first downbeat; this piece demands a rock-solid pulse from measure one, so lock in the conductor's beat and trust it.
- Balance the melodic material between first and second violins so the folk tune remains clear even as the accompaniment grows denser.
- Encourage cellists and basses to lean into the rhythmic drive of the bass line; their precision and forward momentum carry the perpetual motion effect.
- Allow the piece to breathe at marked tempo changes or sectional breaks, but resist the urge to slow down in the final rushes; let the momentum build to the finish.
How to use it
Program this as a concert closer or centerpiece when you want to send audiences out energized. It pairs well on a program mixing folk-influenced works with classical repertoire, and its infectious character makes it an excellent festival or competition selection.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining steady tempo and rhythmic cohesion at fast tempos
- Balancing transparency in densely voiced passages
- Stylistic interpretation of folk idioms and Appalachian musical character
- Ensemble communication and visual tracking during rapid sectional transitions
- String crossing fluency and rhythmic articulation for perpetual motion figures