Olympia - Brian Balmages

This fanfare captures the spirit of Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. The Games began in 776 B.C. in honor of Zeus. Since then, they have become the central location for heroes and champions to compete for the highest honors in the world. This work also serves as a reminder that heroes are all around us - in teachers who stay after school to help students, in parents who strive to give their children the best possible lives, and most of all in students themselves, the young champions of our world who see nothing between them and their dreams. The mallet part calls for multiple sets of bells (or other metallic instruments such as the vibraphone). Certainly,two to three players can really make this an effective part. There are two Percussion 1 parts included: a normal part and an advanced part. The level of the snare drummer will determine which part should be used. However, both parts may be used simultaneously if percussionists are available.