Unknown

Brian Balmages

General Info

Year: 2022
Duration: c. 5:47
Difficulty: II-1/2 & III-1/2 (see Ratings and the Discussion tab (above) for explanation)
Publisher: FJH Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $75.00/$50.00 | Score Only - $7.00/$5.00

N.B. This work is available in two different grades. See Discussion tab, above.

Instrumentation

Medium level (III 1/2): Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra Alto Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

Bass Drum
Bells
Chimes
Crash Cymbals
Marimba
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tam-tam
Triangle
Vibraphone

Medium-easy level (II 1/2):

Full Score
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F
Trombone I-II
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

Bass Drum
Bells
Chimes
Crash Cymbals
Marimba
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tam-tam
Triangle
Vibraphone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

The first inspiration for this piece is anger. Pure, unadulterated anger at Covid and its ravaging effects on our physical and mental health. This anger gives way to loneliness, something that the world experienced on so many different levels. The music continues to alternate between these emotions while also exploring brief moments of beauty and hope. Eventually, the orchestration things out considerably and the foundation becomes a soft series of cluster chords. On top of this, one can hear excerpts of America (My country, 'Tis of Thee); however, only a two measure excerpt is used. That excerpt quotes the lyric "Land where my fathers died." (Enough said.)

After revisiting some of the opening material, the music moves at a quicker pace and takes on the energy of music that could be identified with a protest march. The world saw a lot of demonstrations, marches, and protests (some peaceful, and some not so peaceful). This section captures the intensity that has fuelled these protests, whether about social justice, racial justice, gender equality, transgender rights, freedom over fear, and more. Regardless of where anyone stands on any of these issues, these protests have been highly visible, and even more so during the pandemic.

Finally, the music begins to fade away, with various elements from throughout the piece surfacing for a moment here and there. The listener is left with nothing but the sound of bells and chimes. The piece intentionally closes in a way that makes the ending feel slightly uncertain - a final testament to the unknown.

Unknown was commissioned by the Stiles Middle School Band Program (Leander, Texas) and band directors Darcy Vogt Williams, Jenna Yee, and TJ West.

- Program Note by composer

Media

Audio: Reference recording (Brian Balmages, conductor)

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Stiles Middle School (Leander, Tx.) Honors Band (Darcy Vogt Williams, conductor) - 17 December 2021 (2021 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Arabian Dances (Adaptable Band) (2009/2021)
Arith-Metric No. 1 (Adaptable Band) (2020)
Blue Ridge Reel (Adaptable Band) (2013/2020)
Colliding Visions (Adaptable Band) (2010/2020)
Focal Point (Adaptable Band) (2021)
Focal Point. See also: Suite Treats
Jungle Dance (Adaptable Band) (2011/2022)
A Little Matrix Music (Adaptable Band) (2020)
Moscow, 1941 (Adaptable Band) (2006/2020)

All Wind Works

3, 2, 1... (2019)
Action Scene (2022)
African Journey (2001)
Always United, Forever Strong (2013)
American Big Top (2018)
Among the Clouds (2004)
Apollo (2008)
Apparitions (2010)
Arabian Dances (2009)
Arabian Dances (Adaptable Band) (2009/2021)
Arctic Wars (2020)
Arith-Metric No. 1 (Adaptable Band) (2020)
The Awakening (2003)
Backstage Pass (2015)
Beyond the Summit (2004)
Blue Ridge Impressions (2001)
Blue Ridge Reel (2013)
Blue Ridge Reel (Adaptable Band) (2013/2020)
Boom and Bust (2018)
Breaking Point (2019)
Breaking Through (2021)
Bright Morning Stars
Bringer of War (2017)
The Broken Marionette (2014)
Call of the Wild (2013)
Camptown Variations (2001)
Centennium (2021)
Central Junction (2011)
Chant and Savage Dance (2005)
Chesapeake Serenade (2002)
Clutch
Colliding Visions (2010)
Colliding Visions (Adaptable Band) (2010/2020)
Comet Ride (2006)
Concerto for Two Hands (2015)
Conquest (2003)
Courtly Dance and Procession (2004)
Creatures in the Attic (2010)
The Crystal Fountain (2022)
Dragonfly (2001)
Eagles Among Us (2017)
Electricity (2009)
Elements (2010)
Enchantment (2013)
Endless Rainbows (2013)
Escapades (2005/2017)
Escape from the Deep (2010)
Etowah (2008)
Evocatio (2014)
Falcon Fanfare (2012)
Fanfare Canzonique (2003)
Fanfare Forza (2022)
Fanfare Heroica (2011)
Fanfare and Fireworks (2012)
Fanfare on a Theme of Imagination (2015)
A Festive Fanfare (2017)
A Festive Finale (2019)
Fiesta de los Toros (2017)
The Fire's Fury (2022)
Flight (2005)
Flight of the Griffin (2003)
Focal Point (Adaptable Band) (2021)
Focal Point. See also: Suite Treats
Forever... (2014)
Fusion (2007)
Gateways (2018)
Gettysburg (2002)
Grace (2016)
Gravity Wave (2011)
Groove Music (2013)
Haunted Clocks (2014)
Heart of Gold (2020)
A Hero's Destiny (1999)
Homage to Bharat (2018)
A House Divided (2013)
Hypnotic Fireflies (2012)
Ichabod Fanfare (2011)
Images of Ireland (2004)
In Nature's Glory (2002)
Incantation and Ritual (2004)
Industrial Loops (2017)
Infinite Hope (2018)
Instant Christmas Spirit (2001)
Into the Arctic (2015)
Invictus (2000)
Jingle Bell Tones (2004)
Journal for a Soldier (2010)
Journey By Night (1998)
Joy in All Things (2012)
Joy of Life (2015)
Jungle Dance (2011)
Jungle Dance (Adaptable Band) (2011/2022)
Kilauea (2005)
Kindred Spirits (2009)
Kitsune: The Fox Spirits (2010)
Kyiv, 2022 (2022)
Legacy (2002)
Legend (2001)
Legend of the Drop Bear (2016)
A Life Worth Living (2023)
A Light at the End of Forever (2016)
A Little Matrix Music (Adaptable Band) (2020)
Loudoun Praises (2005)
Love and Light (2020)
Lullaby to the Moon (2017)
Majestica (2006)
Marche Diabolique (2014)
Metal (2013)
Metamorphic Dances (2019)
Midnight on Main Street (2009)
Midnight Suite
- Midnight Mission (2005)
- Midnight Sky (2006)
- Midnight Madness (2007)
Miles of Blue (2020)
Miramar Fanfare (2003)
Moscow, 1941 (2006)
Moscow, 1941 (Adaptable Band) (2006/2020)
Motion (2006)
Nevermore (2011)
Not Afraid to Dream (2006)
The Nutcracker (as arranger) (2008)
O Mio Babbino Caro (2000)
Of Emperors and Chariots (2000)
Olympia (2005)
Open Space (2014)
Parade of the Jesters (2002)
Pele (2004)
Phasing Thunder (2014)
Pikes Peak (2019)
Pixelated World (2020)
Pride of the Clipper (2020)
Primal Dances (2018)
Proclamation (2000)
Proudly We Hail (as arranger) (1814/2002)
Radiance (2018)
Raging Machines (2008)
Rain (2008)
Rapture (2022)
Renaissance Reimagined (2017)
Reverberations (2009)
Rhythms and Riffs‎ (2008)
Rippling Watercolors (2015)
Rise of the Bladesmith (2012)
Rite of Passage (2000)
Rocky Mountain Romp (2007)
Sapier's Story (2002)
Scenes from an Ocean Voyage (2009)
A Scottish Festival (2021)
Shadow Waltzes (2016)
Shadows Unleashed (2013)
Shenandoah Triptych (2002)
Shrine of the Fallen (2016)
Silence Overwhelmed (2010)
Smithsonian Suite (2003)
A Solitary Wish (2017/2018)
Sound Prisms (2002)
Sparks (2007)
The Spirit of Aloha (2015)
Spirit of the Stallion (2016)
Spontaneous Beings (2017)
Stages (2021)
Stampede (2010)
Star Above, Shine Brightly (2001)
The Star-Spangled Banner (as arranger) (1814/2014)
Starscapes (2007)
Starsplitter Fanfare (2009)
Still (2012)
Suite Treats. See: Focal Point
Summer Dances (2000)
Summer Resounding! (2008)
Summit City (2006)
Sun Cycles (2012)
Super (Em)Powers (2020)
Swirling Prisms (2017)
Symphonic Episodes (2004)
Symphony No. 1 for Brass (1998)
Synthesis (2016)
The Tears of Arizona (2016)
Temple of the Murals (2011)
That Which Binds Us (2015)
Three Celtic Dances (2008)
Thrill Ride (2019)
Through Courageous Eyes (2003)
Through the Mist (2009)
Thunderbolt Fanfare (2019)
To Dance Among the Stars (2020)
Tomorrow's Yesterdays (2011)
Trust in Angels (2017)
Twittering Machine (2017)
Unknown (2022)
A View of the World (2001)
Waves (2007)
Whale Warriors (2009)
What I Do Today... (2022)
When Spirits Soar (2006)
Whispering Winds (2003)
Winged Victory (2007)
Wings to the Mind (2021)
Winter Dances (2001)
Within the Castle Walls (2012)

Resources

Brian Balmages website Accessed 23 June 2021
Medium-Easy Perusal score
Medium Perusal score