the red balloon
anne mcginty - Grade 2
About the music
The Red Balloon is an original composition based on a painting the composer saw just once. the painting showed a small child and a grandfather, facing away. The two people and the background were done in white on white. The only color in the painting was the red balloon, held by the child. The music depicts the balloon floating in air.
Key Signature
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Time Signature
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Tempo & style
(QN=)
Ranges
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Flute
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Clarinet 1
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Clarinet 2
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Trumpet
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Trombone
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instrumentation
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WOODWIND
Flute Oboe (opt.) Clarinet 1-2 Bass Clarinet* Bassoon* Alto Sax Tenor Sax (opt.) Baritone Sax* |
BRASS
Trumpet 1-2 French Horn (opt.) Trombone* Euphonium* Tuba* *One or more will provide an adequate bass part. |
PERCUSSION
Bells Snare Drum Bass Drum Triangle Suspended Cymbal Claves Tambourine |
teaching concept categories
teaching considerations
This programmatic piece is a great teaching tool for young musicians. There is extensive use of chromatic notes, all of which of written in the part (no sharps and flats in the key signature). The piece encourages students to develop their ability to play in a gentle, floating style, never breaking the phrase, and never letting the "balloon drop" as the melody gets passed from one instrument group to the next.
Resources
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