Spirit of Aloha, The

Brian Balmages

Subtitle: Island Dance

General Info

Year: 2015
Duration: c. 4:45
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: FJH Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $70.00 | Score Only (print) - $10.00

Instrumentation

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

Bells
Crash Cymbals
Ipu
Kala'au
Marimba
Pahu
Suspended Cymbal
Triangle
'Uli'Uli
Vibraphone

Ukulele (optional)

N.B. Information on Hawaiian instruments are found in the Discussion tab, above.

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

The Spirit of Aloha was born after a trip I took to Honolulu, Hawaii, to work with the Niu Valley Middle School Concert Band and director Wayne Fanning. They had been selected by the American School Band Directors Association to premiere a new work of mine called Open Space. Wayne decided to fly me out to the island ahead of the premiere so we could dive into the piece together and dig into the musical aspects of the music. While there, my wife and I had the opportunity to soak in the beautiful scenery and culture of Oahu. I actually did not work with the band until my fifth day on the island. By that point, I was already incredibly relaxed and in great spirits. On Monday morning, I walked into the band room at Niu Valley Middle School and immediately felt the "aloha spirit" in the students and directors. In fact, it was stunning. I immediately received numerous leis (a wreath of flowers or other objects) and as a welcome to the island and received additional ones when it was time to leave. Students bought chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, Hawaiian coffee (which I am drinking as I write this!) and too many other gifts to mention. However, it was not the gifts that truly affected me. It was the "aloha spirit" of the students and visiting directors. They were so engaged, musical, respectful, spirited and kind. They took risks. They laughed. They poured their hearts into my music and made me a better person as a result of my time with them.

As I returned home, I immediately felt the need to give back to these wonderful people. It is in this "aloha spirit" that I have composed this piece and dedicated it to them. The music reflects my time in Honolulu. While the majority of the music is original, I do incorporate Hawaii Aloha toward the end of the piece. While this song is not the official state song of Hawaii, many consider it to be just as important (much like America the Beautiful). When people in Hawaii sing this song, they often stand up and hold hands. It is a beautiful sight. The music was presented to the Niu Valley Middle School Concert Band immediately after their concert at the American School Band Directors National Convention in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. While they had just premiered a new piece of mine, the dedication was to ASBDA, the commissioning the group. Now, they have their own piece.

There are quite a few authentic Hawaiian instruments that are called for in the music, mostly in the percussion section. Alternate instruments are provided and will still be effective, but I always encourage directors to use as many authentic instruments as possible.

This piece is dedicated to the Niu Valley Middle School Band and their director Wayne Fanning. Thank you for your kindness, generosity, warm spirit and wonderful musicianship. I hope this gift 'in the spirit of aloha' helps you understand just how much I enjoyed our time together. I hope students and directors around the world get to experience the same feeling through this music.

- Program Note by composer

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

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

Brian Balmages website Accessed 15 September 2020
Perusal score