Breaking Point

Brian Balmages

General Info

Year: 2019
Duration: c. 9:30
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: FJH Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $100.00 | Score Only (print) - $6.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contrabass 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
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

Bar Chimes
Bass Drum
Bells
Chimes
Crash Cymbals
Crotales (higher octave only; 2 bows required)
Marimba
Mark Tree
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Triangle
Tam-tam (large)
Tom-toms (4)
Vibraphone
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Written over a several month period when the composer’s father was dying, the composer states: “Throughout this entire experience, I have reached my own breaking point. Over and over again. So I fall apart, put myself together, and am then broken all over again.” One of the most emotional and powerful pieces Balmages has ever written, there are moments of untamed beauty, anger, rage, hope, despair, and frustration.

- Program Note from publisher

N.B. Further extended notes may be found in the perusal score.

Commissioned by the Cumberland High School Band, Cumberland, Wisconsin; Daniel Hopkins, director.

- Program Note from score

Media

Audio: Reference recording (Brian Balmages, conductor)

State Ratings

Texas: IV. Complete

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Appalachian State University (Boone, N.C.) Concert Band (Jake H. Miller, conductor) - 20 February 2025
Oklahoma City (Okla.) Symphonic Band (Brian Balmages, conductor) – 24 April 2024
First Coast Wind Symphony (Jacksonville, Fla.) (Paul Weikle, conductor) - 19 February 2023
Rochester High School (Rochester Hills, Mich.) Wind Ensemble - 30 October 2019

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)
A Celtic Celebration (2024)
Centennium (2021)
Central Junction (2011)
Chant and Savage Dance (2005)
Chesapeake Serenade (2002)
Circles (2024)
Clutch (2023)
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)
Critical Impact (2025)
The Crystal Fountain (2022)
Dragonfly (2001)
Dream Machine (2019)
Eagles Among Us (2017)
Electricity (2009)
Elements (2010)
Emblazoned (2023)
Enchantment (2013)
Endless Rainbows (2013)
Escapades (2005/2017)
Escape from the Deep (2010)
Eternal Flame (2024)
Etowah (2008)
Evocatio (2014)
Exaltation (1999)
Falcon Fanfare (2012)
Fanfare - Toward Our New Century (2016)
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)
The Gift of Giving (2025)
Go Time! (2025)
Grace (2016)
Gravity Wave (2011)
Groove Music (2013)
Haunted Clocks (2014)
Heart of Gold (2020)
A Hero's Destiny (1999)
Homage to Bharat (2018)
Hopscotch (arr. Lindveit)
A House Divided (2013)
How Sweet the Sound (2024)
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)
Lone, Wild Bird (as arranger) (c. 1835/2023)
Loudoun Praises (2005)
Love and Light (2020)
Lullaby to the Moon (2017)
Majestica (2006)
March of the Centurions (2025)
Marche Diabolique (2014)
Metal (2013)
Metal Bell Carol (2025)
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)
On Top of the World (2017)
Open Space (2014)
Parade of the Jesters (2002)
Pele (2004)
Phasing Thunder (2014)
Pikes Peak (2019)
Pixelated World (2020)
Portraits in Bluestone
Pride of the Clipper (2020)
Primal Dances (2018)
Proclamation (2000)
Proudly We Hail (as arranger) (1814/2002)
Radiance (2018)
Raging Machines (2008)
Rail Riffs (2024)
Rain (2008)
Rapture (2022)
Renaissance Reimagined (2017)
Reverberations (2009)
Rhythms and Riffs‎ (2008)
Rippling Watercolors (2015)
Rise of the Bladesmith (2012)
Rite of Passage (2000)
Rock the House
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)
Soaring with Angels (2025)
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)
The Wild One! (2023)
Windows and Mirrors (2024)
Winged Victory (2007)
Wings to the Mind (2021)
Winter Dances (2001)
Within the Castle Walls (2012)
Woodlands Overture (2024/2025)

Resources

Balmages, B. (2019). Breaking Point: For Symphonic Band [score]. FJH Music: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Brian Balmages website. Accessed 24 January 2020
Perusal score

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