Incantation and Ritual (Balmages)

Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages

General Info

Year: 2004
Duration: c. 2:20
Difficulty: I (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: FJH Music Company, Inc
Cost: Score and Parts - $50.00   |   Score Only - $6.00

Instrumentation

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

• Bass Drum
• Claves
• Crash Cymbals
• Glockenspiel
• Rainstick
• Snare Drum
• Suspended Cymbal
• Tambourine
• Tom-Toms (2)
• Triangle
• Wind Chimes

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

This fantastic work conjures up images of an ancient tribal gathering. The opening's mysterious Incantation uses a soft, chant-like melody with slight intrusions by the percussion, foreshadowing the intense ritual to follow. As the opening builds, the driving beat of the ritual takes over with great fire. Percussion infuses this work with relentless energy as the piece draws to a powerful conclusion.

Incantation and Ritual was commissioned by the East Stroudsburg (PA) School District South Combined Fifth Grade Band, Melody Schamp and Kaytye Clogg, directors.

-Program Note by Publisher

Incantation and Ritual is reminiscent of an ancient tribal gathering. It opens with a slow mysterious melody that should sound like a soft chant. The occasionally repeated percussion sounds break the calm atmosphere then retreat back into the texture. The ritual section is characterized with great fire and energy supported by a wealth of percussion.

Use the opening as a vehicle to teach sustainment to younger players. Students should sustain all whole notes their full value, especially when flutes and clarinets take a breath in measure 2. The entire opening is extremely legato. Beginning in measure 16, work with students to gradually increase air flow for an even crescendo into measure 20. In the ritual section, all notes should have some lift, but make sure there is a difference in length between quarter and eighth notes.

Percussion 3 is an optional part altogether. It is best to secure enough players for this part before adding a second player to the doubles tom-tom part.

-Program Note by composer

Commercial Discography

Reference Recording Unknown conductor and ensemble

State Ratings

Georgia: I
Indiana: Junior Band Group III
Mississippi: 2A
North Carolina: I
South Carolina: I
Tennessee: II
West Virginia: I

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Works for Winds by this Composer

Adaptable Music

• 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

• African Journey (2001)
• Always United, Forever Strong (2013)
• American Big Top (2018)
• Among the Clouds (2004)
• Apollo (2008)
• Arabian Dances (2009)
• Arith-Metric No. 1 (Adaptable Band) (2020)
• The Awakening (2003)
• Backstage Pass (2015)
• Beyond the Summit (2004)
• Blue Ridge Reel (2013)
• Blue Ridge Reel (Adaptable Band) (2013/2020)
• Breaking Point (2019)
• Bright Morning Stars
• Bringer of War (2017)
• Call of the Wild (2013)
• Camptown Variations (2001)
• Chant and Savage Dance (2005)
• Chesapeake Serenade (2002)
• Colliding Visions (Adaptable Band) (2010/2020)
• Comet Ride (2006)
• Conquest (2003)
• Courtly Dance and Procession (2004)
• Dragonfly (2001)
• Eagles Among Us (2017)
• Elements (2010)
• Enchantment (2014)
• Endless Rainbows (2013)
• Escapades (2005)
• Escape from the Deep (2010)
• Etowah (2008)
• Evocatio (2014)
• Falcon Fanfare (2012)
• Fanfare Canzonique (2003)
• 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)
• Gettysburg
• Grace (2016)
• Groove Music (2013)
• Haunted Clocks (2014)
• A Hero's Destiny (1999)
• Homage to Bharat (2018)
• A House Divided (2013)
• Hypnotic Fireflies (2013)
• Images of Ireland (2004)
• In Nature's Glory (2002)
• Incantation and Ritual (2004)
• Industrial Loops (2017)
• Infinite Hope (2018)
• Instant Christmas Spirit
• Into the Arctic (2015)
• Invictus (2000)
• Jingle Bell Tones
• Journey By Night (1998)
• Journey for a Soldier (2010)
• Joy in All Things (2012)
• Joy of Life (2015)
• Jungle Dance (2011)
• Kilauea
• Kindred Spirits (2009)
• Legacy
• 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
• 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 (2006)
  • Midnight Sky (2006)
  • Midnight Madness (2007)
• Miramar Fanfare (2003)
• Moscow, 1941 (2006)
• Moscow, 1941 (Adaptable Band) (2006/2020)
• Motion (2006)
• Nevermore (2011)
• Not Afraid to Dream (2006)
• O Mio Babbino Caro (2000)
• Of Emperors and Chariots (2000)
• Olympia
• Open Space (2014)
• Parade of the Jesters (2002)
• Pele (2004)
• Phasing Thunder (2014)
• Pikes Peak (2019)
• Primal Dances (2018)
• Proclamation (2000)
• Proudly We Hail
• Raging Machines (2008)
• Rain (2008)
• Renaissance Reimagined (2017)
• Reverberations (2009)
• Rhythms and Riffs‎ (2008)
• Rippling Watercolors (2015)
• Rite of Passage (2000)
• Rocky Mountain Romp (2007)
• Sapier's Story
• 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)
• Spirit of the Stallion (2016)
• Spontaneous Beings (2017)
• Star Above, Shine Brightly (2001)
• The Star-Spangled Banner (as arranger) (1814/2014)
• Starscapes (2007)
• Summer Dances (2000)
• Summer Resounding! (2008)
• Summit City (2006)
• Sun Cycles (2012)
• Swirling Prisms
• Symphonic Episodes (2004)
• Symphony No. 1 for Brass (1998)
• Synthesis (2016)
• Temple of the Murals (2011)
• That Which Binds Us (2015)
• Three Celtic Dances (2008)
• Thrill Ride (2019)
• Through Courageous Eyes (2003)
• Trust in Angels (2017)
• Twittering Machine (2017)
• A View of the World (2001)
• Waves (2007)
• When Spirits Soar (2006)
• Whispering Winds (2003)
• Winged Victory (2007)
• Winter Dances (2001)
• Within the Castle Walls (2012)

Resources

• Brian Balmages website Accessed 15 September 2020