Hypnotic Fireflies

Brian Balmages

General Info

Year: 2012
Duration: c. 3:55
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: FJH Music Company
Cost: Score and Parts - $15.00 | Score Only - $15.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
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
Horn in F
Trombone I-II
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Timpani
Mallet Percussion I-II
Percussion I-II, including:

Bass Drum
Snare Drum
Crash Cymbals
Amplified metal slinky
Bar Chimes
Bells
Chimes
China Cymbals
Finger Cymbals
Marimba
Triangle
Vibraphone
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

This creative commissioned work was inspired by the composer’s vision of an open field on a summer night, with thousands of fireflies lighting up the darkness. Intended to take listeners on a metaphorical journey, the piece envisions being hypnotized by the flashing lights from a distance before awakening in the middle of the field surrounded by their magnificent glow. A soft introduction, initially featuring piano accompanied by soft metallic sounds from percussion, represents the view of the field and the twinkling lights from a distance, The music slowly intensifies to a point that listeners soon find themselves in the middle of the field surrounded by the fireflies. Driving rhythms and thick textures represents the lights reaching their peak, before the glow and musical intensity begins to fade. The hypnotic effect occurs again as listeners are transported back to their original location observing the fireflies from afar before being engulfed by darkness and silence. The piano is an essential part of the piece, and a part is also included for amplified metal slinky.

- Program Note from The Instrumentalist, Aug. 2013, p. 41.

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

Texas: II. Complete

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Benedictine College (Atchison, Ks.) Symphonic Band (Jennifer Whyte, conductor) - 25 April 2021
University of Missouri (Columbia) University Band (Amy M. Knopps, conductor) – 27 February 2020
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Middle School Songer Honor Band (Eric Songer, conductor) – 30 January 2020
Scarsdale (N.Y.) High School Symphonic Band (Brian Balmages, conductor) – 21 February 2019 (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
Casteel High School (Queen Creek, Ariz.) Symphonic Band (Drew Eary, conductor) – 26 April 2018
Berea (Ky.) College Wind Ensemble (James Dreiling, conductor) – 25 October 2016
San Jose Wind Symphony (Edward Harris, conductor) - 9 March 2014
Cabrillo College (Aptos, Calif.) Symphonic Winds (Jon Nordgren, conductor) - 19 May 2013

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)
A Little Matrix Music (Adaptable Band) (2020)
Moscow, 1941 (Adaptable Band) (2006/2020)

All Wind Works

3, 2, 1... (2019)
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)
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 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)
Flight (2005)
Flight of the Griffin (2003)
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)
Kilauea (2005)
Kindred Spirits (2009)
Kitsune: The Fox Spirits (2010)
Legacy (2002)
Legend (2001)
Legend of the Drop Bear (2016)
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)
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)
A View of the World (2001)
Waves (2007)
Whale Warriors (2009)
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 15 September 2020
Balmages, B. (2012). Hypnotic Fireflies [score]. FJH Music: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.