Wind Dancer

Wind Dancer is a set of variations based on a four-note pentatonic motive. Each variation should seem to become more lively as if a dancer is spinning wildly with arms and legs flailing in the air. Although minimalistic in nature, the work draws on traditional American sounds first heard in the music of Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 4 | Duration: 4:05

Instrumentation
Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe
Bassoon
Bb Clarinet 1
Bb Clarinet 2
Bb Clarinet 3
Bass Clarinet
Eb Alto Saxophone
Bb Tenor Saxophone
Eb Baritone Saxophone

Bb Trumpet 1
Bb Trumpet 2
Bb Trumpet 3
F Horn
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Trombone 3
Euphonium
Tuba

Timpani
Percussion 1 (2 Players — snare drum, bass drum, woodblock)
Percussion 2 (suspended cymbal, crash cymbals, ratchet, tam tam)
Percussion 3 (bells)
Percussion 4 (xylophone, marimba)

Program Notes
Wind Dancer was commissioned by Jacquie Meunier and the Southeast Polk High School Wind Ensemble in 2003. The work is a set of variations based on a four-note pentatonic motive. Each variation should seem to become more lively as if a dancer is spinning wildly with arms and legs flailing in the air. Although minimalistic in nature, the work draws on traditional American sounds first heard in the music of Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein.

- Jim Colonna