Primeval Dance: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$60.00 USD

Primeval Dance: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Primeval Dance: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-50681
Price: 60.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 1.5-2

Item: 00-50681

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Raw, primitive-sounding harmonies combine with contemporary colors and haunting melodies in this genre-busting work for developing bands by Brian Balmages. While quite playable, Primeval Dance has an undeniably mature sound and will make a powerful impression on your audience. Incredibly unique music for younger ensembles! (2:00)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Primeval Dance: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: MakeMusic Developing Band

Publisher: MakeMusic Publications

ISBN10: 1-4706-6343-0

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-6343-8

UPC: 038081580319

SKU: 00-50681

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages has established himself as a major voice in contemporary composition across orchestral, band, and chamber idioms. His works have been performed worldwide by ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to school groups in prestigious 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, and he has received commissions from major universities including the University of Miami.

As a conductor, Balmages maintains active relationships with all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras worldwide, with notable guest appearances at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and various national conferences. He is a member of the American Bandmasters Association and holds the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Visual and Performing Arts. Currently, he serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

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Why we love this

Balmages delivers genuinely sophisticated writing at a grade 1.5-2 level, avoiding the condescension that often creeps into developing band repertoire. The integration of primitive harmonies with contemporary color creates music that sounds mature and concert-worthy without asking your band to play beyond their technical reach. Your students get the reward of sounding genuinely artistic while building real fundamentals.

What to expect

Ancient and modern collide in this piece. Sparse, primal harmonies meet shimmering contemporary orchestration, creating an eerie soundscape that feels both elemental and refined. The haunting melodies linger after the final note, leaving an impression far beyond the two-minute runtime.

Who it's for

Grade 1.5-2 concert bands ready to program music that sounds genuinely artistic and mature. This works equally well for ensembles seeking distinctive festival repertoire or bands wanting to challenge their audience's expectations of what young groups can express musically.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the haunting melodic lines with careful phrasing rather than rushing the two-minute duration; allow the primitive harmonies room to breathe and create their atmospheric effect.
Balance the contemporary colors with the raw harmonic foundation by ensuring sustained voices remain steady while feature lines sing through clearly.
Work sectionally on transitions between the contrasting timbral areas, since the genre-blending approach means standard concert band voice leading expectations shift throughout the work.

How to use it

Program this as a contrasting centerpiece in a concert featuring more traditional developing band repertoire, or use it as a festival selection where its distinctive voice will stand out among conventional choices. The mature sound and memorable character also make it an effective concert opener that immediately signals your band's musicianship to the audience.