Arabian Dances (Balmages)

Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages

General Info

Year: 2009
Duration: c. 6:25
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: FJH Music Co.
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $85.00   |   Score Only (print) - $11.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra Alto 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-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

• Bongos (2)
• Crash Cymbals
• Darbukas (2: smaller and larger)
• Finger Cymbals
• Frame Drum
• Marimba (5.0 octaves)
• Shaker
• Shekere (optional Cabasa)
• Suspended Cymbal
• Tambourine
• Tam-tam (large)
• Tom-tom (low)
• Wind Chimes

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Explore Middle Eastern sounds with this work that combines authentic traditional melodies and rhythms with original music. After a haunting opening, authentic Middle Eastern percussion instruments create the groove that accompanies the folk song Ala Dal'ona. As the orchestration builds, original themes are intertwined before the percussion ensemble becomes the focus of the third section. The final melody, Tafta Hindi, develops until it morphs into an ostinato over a magnificent presentation of the original theme that is found throughout the work.

- Program Note from publisher

Commissioned by the South Carolina Band Directors Association for the All-State Clinic Band.

- Program Note from score

Media

• Audio: Reference recording. The Washington Winds (Edward S. Petersen, conductor)

State Ratings

• Minnesota: II
• Oregon: IV-A
• South Carolina: IV
• Tennessee: IV
• Texas: III. Complete

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Jacksonville (Fla.) University Wind Ensemble (Christopher C. Criswell, conductor) - 19 February 2023
• South Carolina Governor's School of the Arts (Greenville) Wind Ensemble (Leslie W. Hicken, conductor) - 12 December 2022
• University of Vermont (Burlington) Concert Band (D. Thomas Toner, conductor) - 11 November 2022
• Tri-State Wind Symphony (Dubuque, Iowa) (Nolan Hauta, conductor) 14 July 2022
• Salem (Mass.) State University University Band (Mary-Jo Grenfell, conductor) - 26 April 2022
• University of Texas at Arlington Symphonic Band (Christopher Evans, conductor) - 12 October 2021
• Sacramento (Calif.) State University Concert Band (Matthew Morse, conductor) – 25 November 2019
• East Tennessee State University (Johnson City) Concert Band (Joe D. Moore, conductor) – 17 October 2019
• Henderson State University (Arkadelphia, AR) Symphony Band (Shaun R. Popp, conductor) – 1 May 2019
• West Virginia University (Morgantown) Concert Band (Matthew J. McCurry, conductor) – 9 April 2019
• Grand Street (New York) Community Band (Brian Worsdale, conductor) – 23 March 2019
• Henry Middle School (Cedar Park, TX) Honors Band (Robert Herrings, conductor) – 7 June 2018
• Union High School (La Porte City, Iowa) Concert Band (Mike Bistline, conductor) – 1 May 2018
• PEI Senior High Honours Band 2017 (Ardith Haley, Conductor) – 26 November 2017
• Miami (Fla.) Arts Studio Wind Ensemble – 26 October 2017
• West Lothian (U.K.) Schools Wind Ensemble (Camille Mason, conductor) – 6 December 2015

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)
• 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)
• 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

• Balmages, B. (2009). Arabian Dances [score]. FJH Music: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• Brian Balmages website Accessed 15 September 2020
• Nicholas, Christopher, J. "Arabian Dances." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 10, Compiled and edited by Richard Miles, 369-375. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2015.
• Perusal score