Unknown: Mallet Percussion 1
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 2.5
Item: 98-PC-DB1865_M1
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Description
Composed during a time when everything was uncertain, this poignant work finds inspiration in anger, beauty, hope, sorrow and determination. Written to be performable by various levels of bands, the piece is playable as a medium-level version alone, a medium-easy version alone, or both versions combined (Medium-level version sold separately). A complete score of both versions combined is available as a download.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Unknown: Mallet Percussion 1 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-DB1865_M1
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 been commissioned and performed by ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to school groups in 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, won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for Love and Light, and holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association.
Balmages earned the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award and was commissioned by the University of Miami to compose music for the inauguration of the institution's president. His work has been performed at the Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service and at conferences including the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and the College Band Directors Conference. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
Why we love this
Balmages understands what young band directors need: a substantial work that doesn't oversimplify the emotional content. Unknown delivers genuine artistic substance at a realistic grade level, with the flexibility to perform either version alone or combine them for added texture. The dual-level design means you're not pigeonholing your ensemble or settling for filler.
What to expect
Unknown moves between turbulent intensity and quiet introspection, anchored by a sense of purpose. The work doesn't shy away from darker emotional territory, but emerges with resilience; it feels like witnessing honest struggle and finding solid ground beneath it.
Who it's for
Directors programming Grade 2-3 bands who want serious emotional content without compromising playability. The flexible scoring structure makes it ideal for mixed-ability ensembles or bands where you want to challenge your stronger players while keeping everyone meaningfully engaged.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the Medium and Medium-Easy versions carefully if performing them combined. Let the easier part support and enhance without disappearing.
- Attend to the emotional arc across the full work. The piece moves through distinct moods (anger, beauty, hope, sorrow, determination); mark these transitions clearly in rehearsal so the narrative is unmistakable.
- Use sectional work to build confidence in the younger or less experienced players. Separate out the Medium-Easy version early in rehearsals to establish solid fundamentals before blending.
- Give yourself adequate rehearsal time on the combined version if you choose it. The layering creates richer sonorities that require balance and blend work beyond what either version needs alone.
How to use it
This works excellently as a festival or contest selection where emotional depth and musical maturity matter as much as technical display. It also programs well as a concert centerpiece that allows your band to show range, moving audiences beyond typical young band expectations.
Skills your students will build
- Playing with expressive control across contrasting emotional landscapes
- Sustaining tone quality during long passages and dynamic changes
- Balancing ensemble sound when multiple versions combine
- Responding to subtle tempo and articulation choices that drive narrative intent
- Interpreting composer intent in music that prioritizes emotional communication over technical display