Summer Dances (Band Gr. 4)

Summer Dances is a joyful work in three short movements celebrating Gorb's favorite season where people are happiest outdoors. Each movement is a celebration – Summer Day, Beach Habanera, and Summer Party.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Series:
Level: 4 | Duration: 9:00

Instrumentation
Piccolo (1)
Flute 1-2 (8)
Oboe 1-2 (2)
Bassoon 1-2 (2)
E-flat Clarinet (1)
B-flat Clarinet 1-2 (6)
B-flat Clarinet 3-4 (6)
Bass Clarinet (2)
Alto Saxophone 1-2 (4)
Tenor Saxophone (2)
Baritone Saxophone (1)

B-flat Trumpet 1-2 (6)
B-flat Trumpet 3 (3)
F Horn 1-2 (2)
F Horn 3-4 (2)
Trombone 1-2 (4)
Trombone 3 (1)
Euphonium (2)
B-flat Baritone T.C. (2)
Tuba (4)
String Bass (1)

Timpani (4 drums)
Percussion 1: Snare Drum, Suspended Cymbal, Castanets, Woodblock, Kick Drum
Percussion 2: Tambourine, Maracas, Crash Cymbals, Suspended Cymbal
Percussion 3: Tubular Bells, Glockenspiel, Bass Drum, Marimba, Triangle

Program Notes
Summer Dances is a joyful work in three short movements celebrating my favourite season where people are happiest outdoors. Each movement is a celebration – the first movement ‘Summer Day’ celebrates the open air, with a bold and arrogant melody in 10/8 time, whose rhythm dominates the movement. The next movement ‘Summer Night’ could be described as a ‘Beach Habanera’ led by a sensuous trumpet melody. The movement ends with an ambiguous harmonic build-up, which is resolved at the start of the finale ‘Summer Party’ with a folk like theme that is passed round the ensemble, building up, (with suggestions of the first movement theme) to a riotous and festive ending. Summer Dances was commissioned by HAFABRA Music, Louis Martinus in collaboration with Biblioservice Gelderland/Music department MUI, Arhnhem, the Netherlands.

– A.G.