Sun Cycles

Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages

General Info

Year: 2012
Duration: c. 5:45
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: FJH

Cost: Score and Parts - $60.00   |   Score Only - $7.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bb Clarinet I-II
Bb Bass Clarinet I-II
Bassoon
Alto Saxophone I-II
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpets (in Bb) I-II
Horn in F
Trombone I-II
Euphonium (Bass Clef & Treble Clef)
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:

• Bass Drum
• Bells
• Crash Cymbals
• Darbukas
• Finger Cymbals
• Frame Drum
• Marimba
• Shaker
• Suspended cymbal
• Tambourine
• Tom-Tom
• Triangle
• Vibraphone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

This innovative work is based on the Egyptian Sun God Ra and features a wealth of Middle Eastern percussion instruments. A mystical opening leads into the main theme of the work, representing the beginning of day. The second section, “Journey through the sky,” takes the listener on a journey with Ra as he flies through the clouds, following the sun's rotation. A dark passage represents his journey to the Underworld before the original theme returns once more to represent “Renewal.” Music then builds as an incredible series of modulating chords and textures all combine to bring the piece to a tremendous and powerful conclusion.

-Program note by publisher

Commercial Discography

• Audio CD: Shadow Ridge Middle School Honors Winds (Chris Meredith, conductor)

Audio Links

Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Shadow Ridge Middle School Honors Winds (Chris Meredith, conductor) - 19 December 2012 (2012 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)
• 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)
• Arabian Dances (Adaptable Band) (2009/2021)
• 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 (as arranger) (1814/2002)
• 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)

References

• Brian Balmages website Accessed 15 September 2020