Dances Fantastique - David Shaffer

This exciting work for concert band is a set of three delightful dances. Opening with a bold fanfare statement, the first dance reveals the melodic material that is the basis for all three movements. The title of this movement, Double Dance, is derived from the second statement of the melody, appearing in doubled rhythmic values. The second movement, Round Dance, the melody is written as a three part round. You could not have a Round Dance without a Square Dance, which is the title of final movement. Lots of fun percussion instruments add interesting timbres throughout. This interesting and clever composition is perfect for contest and festival.

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Dances For Sem Yeto - Gary P. Gilroy

Commissioned and premiered by the Solano County Honor Band Association to commemorate their 50th anniversary with the composer conducting. Mysterious samplings from the percussion section open while an American Indian flute presents the first theme. As with other works by Gilroy, the composition explores an extensive variety of percussion timbres to keep the piece interesting and always changing. After the introduction, the spirit of the work changes to a lively and festive dance with constantly changing meters which makes the piece come alive. This then winds down to an Indian lullaby, the simple and pensive melody providing a relaxing and welcome change before a dramatic a return to the original festive dance with a slightly modified setting. The final moments of the work are quite fierce with bold and intense percussion accompanying tight harmonies and complex rhythms for an exciting and driving ending..

Dances for the Muse, Terpsichore - Carol Brittin Chambers

Composer Carol Brittin Chambers puts a modern sheen on the ever-popular renaissance classic. This multi-movement work keeps the character of the original, but with modernizations that seem so right and turn this piece into an instant new classic. The extreme talent of Carol Brittin Chambers is eminently apparent in this tour de force.

Dances From Terpsichore - Michael Praetorius

Dances From The Duck Pond - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Dances From The Oprichnick - Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

These dances display Tchaikovskys remarkable grasp of symphonic writing and are among the very best of his dance sequences. Carefully transcribed for band, they are taken from the opera "The Oprichnik." The Oprichnik were the personal bodyguards of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. The opening dance features various woodwind solo passages that display a hauntingly poignant Slavic flavor. The second dance begins vigorously and surges forward with ever-increasing accelerandi that lead to a fiery conclusion.

Dances Of A Shimmering Spirit - Robert Sheldon

Dances of Galanta - Zoltán Kodály

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Dances of Innocence - Jan Van der Roost

Jan Van der Roost composed Dances of Innocence to commemorate a girl who passed away at the tender age of 14. In contrast to the sombre, joyless tone such a memory usually invokes, it is a rather cheerful work that reflects the innocence and light heartedness of a child. It does open in a serious mood, but quickly becomes more energetic and turns into a dance. Dances of Innocence is an ode to all the beauty, sincerity and cheerfulness that a child radiates.

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Dances of Serenity - Robert Sheldon

This charming composition features a rhythmic dance in 3/2 time, a playful tune in time and a heartfelt lyrical interlude in 4/4 time. These three themes seamlessly flow into each other to create a tapestry of contrasting styles and emotions.