Dance of the Hours (Band Gr. 3) [Ponchielli]

Dance of the Hours (Italian: Danza delle ore) is a short ballet and is the act 3 finale of the opera La Gioconda composed by Amilcare Ponchielli. It became more widely known after its inclusion in the 1940 Disney animated film "Fantasia" where it is depicted as a comic ballet featuring anthropomorphized ostriches, hippos, elephants, and alligators.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Series:
Level: 3 | Duration: 5:15

Instrumentation
Transposed Score (8.5"x11" stapled booklet)

Piccolo
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Clarinet 1
B-flat Clarinet 2
B-flat Clarinet 3
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

B-flat Trumpet 1
B-flat Trumpet 2
B-flat Trumpet 3
F Horn 1
F Horn 2
F Horn 3
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Trombone 3
Euphonium
B-flat Euphonium T.C.
Tuba
String Bass

Timpani (26" drum only)
Triangle
Bells

Program Notes
Dance of the Hours (Italian: Danza delle ore) is a short ballet and is the act 3 finale of the opera 'La Gioconda' composed by Amilcare Ponchielli. It depicts the hours of the day through solo and ensemble dances. The opera was first performed in 1876 and was revised in 1880. Later performed on its own, the Dance of the Hours was at one time one of the best known and most frequently performed ballets. It became even more widely known after its inclusion in the 1940 Disney animated film Fantasia where it is depicted as a comic ballet featuring anthropomorphized ostriches, hippos, elephants, and alligators.