Escenas de los Aztecas (Band Gr. 5)

Cast in one movement, Escenas de los Aztecas ("Scenes of the Aztecs") is a dramatic work with three distinct sections – Jaguar Dance, Cantares ("Ghost Dance"), and Human Sacrifice.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Series:
Level: 5 | Duration: 12:30

Instrumentation
Piccolo with optional Ocarina (1)
Flute 1 (4)
Flute 2 (4)
Oboe 1 (1)
Oboe 2 / English Horn (1)
Bassoon 1-2 (2)
E-flat Clarinet (1)
B-flat Clarinet 1 (4)
B-flat Clarinet 2 (4)
B-flat Clarinet 3 (4)
B-flat Bass Clarinet (2)
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet (1)
Alto Saxophone 1 (2)
Alto Saxophone 2 (2)
Tenor Saxophone (2)
Baritone Saxophone (1)

B-flat Trumpet 1-2 (4)
B-flat Trumpet 3-4 (4)
F Horn 1-2 (2)
F Horn 3-4 (2)
Trombone 1-2 (4)
Trombone 3 (1)
Euphonium 1-2 (2)
B-flat Baritone T.C. 1-2 (2)
Tuba
String Bass

Timpani (4 drums)
Percussion 1: Bongos, Piccolo Snare Drum, Tenor Drum, Crotales, Triangle, Splash Cymbal, China Cymbal
Percussion 2: Sistrum, Tambourine, Rainstick, Crash Cymbals
Percussion 3: Vibraslap, Cabasa, Crash Cymbals, Temple Blocks, Bass Drum, Tam-Tam, Guiro
Percussion 4: Log Drum, Sleigh Bells, Rattle Stick, Tom-Toms, Suspended Cymbal, Bell Tree, Wind Chimes
Mallets 1: Xylophone, Egg Shaker, Vibraphone, Glockenspiel
Mallets 2: Marimba, Suspended Cymbal, Small Gong, Chimes

Program Notes
Escenas de los Aztecas has three recognizable sections, but it is cast in a single movement. The first portion, entitled "Jaguar Dance" employs a crude flute (ocarina), log drums and other Aztec instruments such as jawbones and rattle sticks to invoke a sort of folk dance celebrating the animal that the Aztecs worshipped and respected above all others: the jaguar. The second portion of the work, first introduced by a lengthy English Horn solo, is called "Cantares", or "Ghost Dance". Cantares were mystical chants employed by Aztec high priests to invoke the return of their ghostly ancestors. The third portion of the piece, "Human Sacrifice", is a moderate dance in 7/8 time, intended to invoke the horror of the massive Aztec religions sacrificial ceremonies, where thousands of captured prisoners from neighboring tribes were slaughtered atop the high pyramid as a gift to the various Aztec gods.