Synthesis: B-flat Bass Clarinet
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 2.5
Item: 98-PC-DB1674_BC
$7.00
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Description
This bold fanfare uses comfortable ranges, yet achieves moments of great power, harmonic intricacy and excitement. The opening features massive percussion along with dialogues between brass and woodwinds. As the celebration ensues, rhythm becomes the focus and melodic ideas dance around. Engaging!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Synthesis: B-flat Bass Clarinet 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-DB1674_BC
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 repertoire. His works have reached audiences worldwide, from professional orchestras performing at venues like Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center to student ensembles in schools at every level. He received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association and won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest. He is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association.
As a guest conductor, Balmages regularly works with all-state and regional ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras. He has conducted at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and numerous state and national conferences. His music was performed as part of 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 has engineered real excitement into this piece without requiring extended ranges or difficult techniques from your band. The brass and woodwind dialogue establishes character immediately, while the rhythmic drive that follows keeps energy high without losing musical substance. Contest and festival directors will appreciate a piece that showcases your students' musicianship and precision without demanding maturity they may not yet possess.
What to expect
Synthesis opens with the impact of a full percussion arsenal anchoring the ensemble, immediately establishing an atmosphere of celebration and forward motion. As brass and woodwind lines trade musical ideas, a sense of dialogue and interplay emerges; the melody then takes on a dancing, almost playful character as rhythm becomes the driving force. Throughout, there is a sense of youthful energy tempered by genuine harmonic sophistication.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the Grade 2.5 level looking for a winning festival or contest selection that combines accessibility with genuine musical substance. Directors will find the comfortable ranges and straightforward technical demands make this suitable for intermediate student bands, while the harmonic complexity and structural design keep it engaging to hear and rewarding to conduct.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the opening percussion layer carefully so it adds weight without burying the brass and woodwind dialogue that follows. The massive sound should feel orchestrated, not chaotic.
- Lock the rhythmic sections with your lowest voices and percussion; once that foundation is solid, the melodic figures will land with much greater impact.
- Shape the brass and woodwind exchanges as true conversations. Each phrase needs clear articulation and direction so listeners hear the back-and-forth design.
- Build momentum gradually through the rhythmic development section. Resist the urge to rush; precision and control create the excitement, not speed.
How to use it
This piece works exceptionally well as a festival or contest entry, where its combination of musicality and technical accessibility serves student performers well. It also functions beautifully as an opening number or closer at a concert, delivering immediate impact and leaving audiences energized. Consider pairing it with a lyrical work to showcase your band's range of expression.
Skills your students will build
- Articulation clarity in dialogue-driven passages
- Rhythmic precision and ensemble lock in driving sections
- Dynamic contrast and phrase shaping across extended musical lines
- Reading simple harmonic movement and sustaining parts while others carry melody