Pride of the Clipper - Brian Balmages

St. Michaels was established in the early 1800s and achieved great success in the shipbuilding industry, especially during the war of 1812. One of the iconic ships produced there was a schooner that came to be known as the Baltimore Clipper. These ships were renowned for their speed and ability to outrun pirates, evade enemy blockades, and more. The clipper remains an iconic name in the Baltimore area and the surrounding area.
Pride of the Clipper takes the listener back to the early days of St. Michaels, combining the joy of living on the water with the industrial sounds of a shipyard. The sound of ship bells interact with the rhythmic banging on metal to immerse the audience in the sounds of a typical St. Michaels morning. The music captures the spirit of these early days while also celebrating the vibrant town it is today. Eventually, the music takes on a more aggressive and sinister character as it portrays a clipper racing to avoid a pirate ship. The intensity rises until the clipper pulls away, and all the preceding tension melts away into a glorious celebration.
Pride of the Clipper was commissioned by the Mid-Shore Community Band in Maryland.
- Abridged program notes by composer (sourced from the Wind Repertory Project)
The Oklahoma City Symphonic Band is under the direction of Dr. Mark G. Belcik. We were pleased to have Mr. Balmages guest conduct the band, and give us his personal insights to his compositions.
Video Links:
Oklahoma City Symphonic Band 2024 Spring Concert:
“The Music of Brian Balmages”
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