Midnight Sky

Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages

This work is the second movement of Balmages's Midnight Suite.

General Info

Year: 2006
Duration: c. 2:10
Difficulty: I (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: FJH Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $40.00   |   Score Only (print) - $5.00

Instrumentation

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

• Bass Drum
• Bells
• Crash Cymbals
• Suspended Cymbal
• Triangle
• Wind Chimes

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

This incredibly expressive lyrical work has a mature sound, contemporary harmonies, and intricate textures. Approachable by the youngest of bands yet more than appropriate for middle school bands as well. As a bonus, the work comes with three chorales (each with a particular teaching concept) to further develop sound and intonation.

- Program Note from publisher

Midnight Sky is a beautiful moment of musical solitude in which listeners close their eyes and imagine a quiet moment under the stars, uninterrupted by the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We often forget to embrace those moments of peace and tranquility. This work seeks to bring that calmness back into our lives.

- Program Note from score

Media

• Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
• Audio CD: Fairfax Wind Symphony (Stanley Schoonover, conductor) - 2006

State Ratings

• Indiana: ISSMA JUNIOR BAND GROUP V
• South Carolina: I

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Shenandoah Conservatory (Winchester, Va.) Concert Band (Alan Johnson, conductor) - 27 April 2017
• Ada-Borup (Ada, Minn.) Middle School Band – 18 November 2014
• Fairfax (Va.) Wind Symphony (Stanley Schoonover, conductor) – 23 December 2006 (2006 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)
• 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 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. (2006). Midnight Sky : From Midnight Suite [score]. FJH Music: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• Brian Balmages website Accessed 15 September 2020