Point Lookout (A Fantasy on Civil War Songs): Violoncello
A Fantasy on Civil War Songs
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 4.5
Item: 98-PC-DST6134_VC1
$7.00
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Description
Inspired by the rich history of Point Lookout State Park in Maryland, this fantasy on civil war songs pays tribute to the remnants of Fort Lincoln, which served as a Civil War fortification. Songs used in the fantasy include The Battle Cry of Freedom, Battle Hymn of the Republic, and When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again. The piece is tied together with excerpts from America, the Beautiful, which comes in fully toward the end of the work. Magical!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Point Lookout (A Fantasy on Civil War Songs): Violoncello 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 String Orchestra
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DST6134_VC1
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. His works have reached audiences in major concert halls including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House, performed by ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to school groups. He holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association and received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association.
Balmages's commissions and recognitions reflect his standing in music education and composition. He won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for Love and Light, received the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award, and was commissioned by the University of Miami to compose for the inauguration of the institution's sixth president. His music was performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service. As a guest conductor, he appears regularly at all-state ensembles, university groups, and conferences including the Midwest Clinic and College Band Directors Conference. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
Why we love this
Balmages crafts a fantasy that feels historically grounded without sacrificing musical coherence. Rather than stringing Civil War melodies together, he weaves them into a unified arc where patriotic themes reinforce each other, building to America, the Beautiful as a moment of genuine emotional resolution. This is repertoire that teaches students how to blend familiar material into something architecturally satisfying.
What to expect
Reflective and anthemic by turns, this fantasy invites listeners into the landscape of Point Lookout and its Civil War legacy. The familiar melodies evoke reverence and resilience, while the orchestration keeps the sound clean and accessible. By the time America, the Beautiful arrives, the accumulation of patriotic themes creates a moment of genuine uplift.
Who it's for
String orchestra directors seeking a patriotic festival or concert piece that connects history to music-making at an intermediate level. Grade 4.5 ensembles with solid intonation and basic sectional independence will find material that challenges without overwhelming them.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the string sections so the familiar melodies sing clearly; these tunes carry historical weight, and students should hear them as primary voices rather than accompaniment figures.
- Pay attention to the transitions between songs. Balmages likely uses key changes or harmonic preparation to signal each new theme; let those moments breathe so listeners follow the journey.
- The final entry of America, the Beautiful rewards a slight expansion of tempo and dynamic range. Build toward it rather than playing it safe.
How to use it
Position this as a centerpiece in a concert devoted to American history or patriotic themes, or as a standalone festival entry that stands on its own merit. Its intermediate difficulty and contest designation make it suitable for winter or spring concert programming when ensembles have developed stamina and precision.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing multiple melodic lines within a single arrangement
- Sustaining intonation during key changes and harmonic modulations
- Interpreting historical and patriotic material with appropriate expression
- Following large-scale formal architecture across a extended work
- Responding to conductor cues that signal thematic transitions