Grace (Balmages)
General Info
Year: 2016
Duration: c. 9:00
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: FJH Music Company Inc
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $75.00 | Score Only (print) - $7.00
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
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-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion, including:
- Bells
- Chimes
- Crash Cymbals
- Suspended Cymbal
- Triangle
- Vibraphone
- Wind Chimes (outdoor)
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
The word “grace” has many meanings. To some, it is a way to carry oneself. To others, it has strong religious connotations. Yet to others, it is a type of simple elegance. Regardless of background, I believe this word carries a common theme of peace to those who hear it. In writing this work, I wanted to draw on all backgrounds of the word in hopes that everyone can identify with the music and feel their own personal “grace” while experiencing the piece.
A little background on the timeline of this work, as it is extremely important:
The piece was commissioned by the Lincoln County (North Carolina) High School Honor Band. Initially, I tried to take the piece in several other directions but found the music going nowhere. Eventually, I felt drawn to the title Grace and proceeded in that direction. The music flowed and I was surprised how quickly I was able to complete the work. I delivered it on April 21, 2015. They had their first rehearsal that evening, and I arrived two days later to rehearse the work and ultimately premiere it on April 24. At the premiere, I gave the above description to the audience and we had a very powerful premiere.
I flew back home to Baltimore on Saturday, April 25. That night, I watched as my home city was ripped apart by violent protests as a result of the death of Freddy Gray while in police custody. The National Guard was called in and I witnessed the unthinkable -- armored National Guard vehicles patrolling the streets and enforcing curfews. I grew up in this city -- I met my wife here and many of my close friends still live here. I was overcome with emotion as my city seemed to unravel before my eyes.
I was scheduled to conduct the Connecticut All-State Band the following weekend. I had sent them my program months ago, but called Monday morning in hopes that I could make a last-minute change. They obliged, and we put Grace in the folder. On Saturday, April 2nd (exactly one week after the violent protests began), I conducted the second performance of Grace. It was one of the most emotional performances I have ever conducted and the group received a standing ovation in the middle of the concert. I will never forget this span of two weeks. It reminded me how music really can help to heal.
While the piece is largely original material, conductors will quickly notice the appearance of Amazing Grace just before measure 88 (alto saxophone solo). I prefer not to explain this to the audience ahead of time since it is not the focus of the piece. It is much more effective if the melody emerges without being expected. In my mind, it is one of the most sincere moments in the work and sets the tone for the rest of the piece, ending in a final “amen.”
- Program Note by composer
Media
State Ratings
- Indiana: II (ISSMA High School Band)
- Louisiana: IV
- Texas: IV. Complete
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Matthew Flinders Anglican College (Sunshine Coast, Qld., Aus.) Wind Symphony (John Thomas, conductor) - 27 October 2022
- Florida State University (Tallahassee) Concert Band (Steven N. Kelly, conductor) - 14 April 2022
- Appalachian State University (Boone, N.C.) Concert Band (Joseph D. Conti, conductor) – 24 April 2019
- Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah) Symphonic Band (Kirk Saville, conductor) – 10 February 2018
- The Ohio State University (Columbus) Symphonic Band (Scott A. Jones, conductor) – 15 November 2017
- Keene (N.H.) State College Concert Band (James Chesebrough, conductor) - 2 November 2017
- University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) Symphony Band (Brian Balmages, conductor) – 16 October 2017
- 13th Army Band, Florida National Guard (Miramar) (Stephen K. Rivera, conductor) – 3 May 2017 (ACB 2017 Annual Convention (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.))
- Ohlone Wind Orchestra (Fremont, Calif.) (Tony Clements, conductor) – 26 March 2017
- Westminster College (New Wilmington, Penn.) Wind Ensemble (Jonathan Nickel, conductor) - 3 March 2017
- Lincoln County All-County Symphonic Band (Lincolnton, N.C.) (Brian Balmages, conductor) – 24 April 2015 *Premiere Performance*
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 (2023)
- 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)
- Emblazoned (2023)
- Enchantment (2013)
- Endless Rainbows (2013)
- Escapades (2005/2017)
- Escape from the Deep (2010)
- Eternal Flame (2024)
- 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)
- Hopscotch (arr. Lindveit)
- A House Divided (2013)
- How Sweet the Sound (2024)
- 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)
- Lone, Wild Bird (as arranger) (c. 1835/2023)
- 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)
- On Top of the World (2017)
- 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)
- The Wild One! (2023)
- Winged Victory (2007)
- Wings to the Mind (2021)
- Winter Dances (2001)
- Within the Castle Walls (2012)
Resources
- Brian Balmages website Accessed 15 September 2020
- Perusal score