Sparks: Flute 2
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 2.5
Item: 98-PC-DB1327_F2
$7.00
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Description
Your group will shine in this magical work depicting how incredible things happen with just a small spark - whether it is a spark of the imagination or a tiny spark that becomes a magnificent fire. A tapestry of sounds is woven throughout the woodwinds and percussion as brass enters with bold fanfares to open the work. A lyrical middle section at the same tempo keeps the energy moving as the piece eventually drives toward a riveting finish. Spectacular!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Sparks: Flute 2 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 Young Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1327_F2
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has established himself as a versatile composer and conductor whose catalog spans orchestral, band, and chamber repertoire performed by everyone from major symphony orchestras to school ensembles at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House. His contributions to band music earned him the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for Love and Light, and election to the American Bandmasters Association. He received the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Visual and Performing Arts and was later commissioned by the University of Miami to compose music for the inauguration of the institution's sixth president.
As a conductor, Balmages maintains an active schedule guest conducting at all-state ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras worldwide, with notable appearances at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and the American School Band Directors Association National Conference. His work has reached audiences at the highest levels of civic life, including performance at 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
Balmages understands exactly what Grade 2.5 ensembles need: compelling musical storytelling without unnecessary technical complexity. The piece moves with genuine momentum, pairing accessible writing with the kind of brass fanfares and percussion textures that feel genuinely exciting in rehearsal and on stage, making it ideal for festival programming where you want your group to sound polished and confident.
What to expect
Sparks opens with a shimmering sense of possibility, woodwinds and percussion weaving together as if igniting ideas. When the brass enters with bold fanfares, the piece announces itself with real theatrical presence. The middle section breathes lyrically while maintaining forward motion, then the music accelerates toward a finish that feels earned and electrifying.
Who it's for
This work is written for Grade 2.5 concert bands with enough instrumental depth to showcase woodwind and percussion color alongside brass, making it accessible to developing ensembles without simplifying the compositional voice. It's ideal for groups preparing for festival or contest performance who need a substantial, musically coherent piece that plays to ensemble strengths.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the tapestry of woodwind textures in the opening section by letting each color emerge distinctly rather than blending everything into a single wash; mark your scores to identify which instruments carry primary material in each passage.
- Bring out the bold character of the brass fanfares without letting them overwhelm the underlying harmonic progression; these moments demand forward energy but not aggressive volume.
- Maintain the lyrical middle section's momentum at the same tempo by shaping phrases with clear arrival points; resist the impulse to slow down, which can deflate the musical line.
- Drive the finish with confidence by locking the rhythm section into a steady pulse during the riveting final section; this is where ensemble cohesion makes the biggest impression.
How to use it
Program this as a contest or festival selection where the combination of musical sophistication and Grade 2.5 accessibility works in your favor. It also pairs well on a concert program with lighter pieces, serving as your group's primary showcase work that demonstrates both technical control and expressive maturity.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing multiple woodwind and percussion textures simultaneously
- Executing clean, crisp brass fanfare passages with articulation precision
- Maintaining phrase momentum through lyrical writing at moderate tempos
- Building ensemble cohesion in driving rhythmic passages toward a climax
- Responding to dynamic contrast between intimate and bold sections