Radiance: Timpani
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 1
Item: 98-PC-DB1750_TMP
$7.00
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Description
This sparkling work harnesses the full capability of a large percussion section! Including 3 different parts for bells along with optional vibraphone (up to three players on one instrument!), chimes and a variety of other instruments, the music comes to life through a series of simple rhythmic fanfares bursting with energy. A great opener or closer!
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Beginning Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1750_TMP
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has established himself as a prolific composer and conductor whose work crosses orchestral, band, and chamber music with equal fluency. His compositions have reached audiences in iconic venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House, performed by ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to elementary school bands. He holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association and received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, along with the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest award for "Love and Light."
Balmages has conducted regional and all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras internationally, with notable appearances at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and numerous state conferences. His music was performed during the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic, and holds degrees from James Madison University and the University of Miami.
Why we love this
This piece harnesses the excitement of a full percussion section to create an immediate sonic impact that Grade 1 students can actually achieve. The multiple bell parts (three different lines plus optional vibraphone) give your percussion section meaningful work without overwhelming beginners, while the fanfare-driven structure lets the entire band feel like they're playing something genuinely exciting rather than a simple exercise.
What to expect
Bright and celebratory, with shimmering bell lines that catch the ear immediately. The simple rhythmic fanfares build infectious energy, creating the sensation of pageantry and triumph through crystalline textures and forward momentum.
Who it's for
Beginning concert bands with strong or developing percussion programs looking for an accessible opener or closer that lets percussionists shine. Directors seeking Grade 1 repertoire that feels polished and sophisticated enough for festival programming while remaining within the technical reach of emerging players.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the percussion section carefully; the bells, vibraphone, and chimes should sparkle through the texture without drowning out the melodic voices beneath them.
- Establish a steady, energetic pulse in rehearsal before layering the rhythmic fanfares so students understand the harmonic foundation supporting the percussion writing.
- Use the optional vibraphone parts strategically if your program has advanced percussionists available, but the piece stands fully intact with the core bell and chimes parts alone.
How to use it
Program this as your concert opener to energize an audience and set a celebratory tone, or close your concert on a sparkling high note. Its polished, contest-ready quality makes it ideal for festival and adjudicated performance contexts where you want to showcase both your ensemble's developing musicianship and your percussion section's capabilities.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining consistent rhythm within fanfare figures
- Balancing melodic and percussion textures in an ensemble
- Executing independent percussion parts while supporting harmonic structure
- Reading and performing Grade 1 band literature at a concert-quality level