Summer Resounding!: Piccolo
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 3
Item: 98-PC-DB1384_P1
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Description
In the spirit of the renowned Summer Dances, yet at an easier level, this stellar work echoes the mood of the piece that launched the phenomenal career of composer Brian Balmages. After years of requests for a similar piece that is not as taxing, bands can now enjoy this exciting new work that maintains its own uniqueness with original themes and harmonies, while still alluding to Summer Dances in both style and form (with a few direct quotes thrown in!). A huge addition to the repertoire!
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Concert Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1384_P1
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has built a reputation as a composer and conductor working across orchestral, band, and chamber idioms. His works have reached audiences in prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House, performed by ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to school groups. He received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association and won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for Love and Light. Balmages holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association and earned the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Visual and Performing Arts.
As a conductor, Balmages maintains active guest conducting relationships with all-state, regional, university, and professional ensembles worldwide. His compositions have been performed at significant national events, including the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
Why we love this
Balmages understands the Grade 3 ensemble's capabilities and aspirations. This work delivers the energy and sophistication of Summer Dances without the technical barriers that keep many bands from accessing his signature sound, making it genuinely accessible rather than watered down. The inclusion of thematic references and direct quotes rewards students with musical connection to a work that launched Balmages' career, while original material ensures the piece stands entirely on its own merits.
What to expect
Bright energy propels the piece forward with the hallmark optimism Balmages brings to his concert band writing. The work captures summer's openness and celebration without sentimentality, balancing rhythmic momentum with moments of genuine harmonic beauty. When those Summer Dances echoes arrive, they land as natural extensions of the work's own voice rather than borrowed moments.
Who it's for
This work serves Grade 3 concert bands seeking substantial, engaging repertoire that doesn't sacrifice musicality for accessibility. Directors will find it particularly valuable for groups transitioning from Grade 2 material or preparing for festival and contest performance. Students benefit from encountering a nationally recognized composer's voice in a format that lets them focus on musical expression rather than technical survival.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the original thematic material alongside the Summer Dances references; the quotes should feel like pleasant surprises rather than the piece's main event.
- Attend to the harmonic language Balmages employs at this level. Even at Grade 3, the voice leading rewards precise intonation and will strengthen players' ear for structure.
- Shape phrases with the same attention to line you'd give a more complex work. Grade 3 doesn't mean short musical gestures; let students experience genuine musical architecture.
How to use it
Program this as a concert opener or centerpiece that demonstrates your band's musicianship and enthusiasm without requiring the performance maturity of Grade 4-5 contest pieces. It works equally well for spring pops concerts, outdoor summer performances, or festival competitions where you want programming that impresses listeners without overshadowing younger sections of an ensemble.
Skills your students will build
- Phrasing and line singing in the context of accessible but genuine musical architecture
- Harmonic awareness and intonation in Grade 3 voicing
- Ensemble balance across sectional and tutti scoring
- Interpretation of a recognized composer's musical style and gesture
- Confidence in performing substantial concert literature