Country Dances

Country Dances is an appealing 3-movement original. Movement 1 is titled Tempest and has a Celtic dance-like character. Movement 2, Far From Home, is quiet with a sad feeling of longing for home while the third movement, Devil's Dream, lifts the spirits with a lively Irish jig.

Program Notes

The country dance, or “contradance” has a rich tradition in America. Although related to the more familiar square dance, the style is markedly different. Rather than the square set of four couples, any number of couples arranged in lines make up a contradance. The music of the contradance is mostly traditional tunes, with roots in the British Isles and New England.

It is this music - the jigs, hornpipes, waltzes, schottisches, and fiddler’s reels - that brings the beauty and excitement to the dance. The tuneful melodies, rustic harmonies, and invigorating rhythms are truly a part of our American heritage.

- Greg Danner

Grade Level: 4
Copyright: 2006
Number of Players: Standard
Duration: 16:25
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Category: Concert Band

Listen to Recordings

Instrumentation

Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe 1/2
English Horn
E-flat Clarinet
Clarinet 1
Clarinet 2
Clarinet 3
Bass Clarinet
Bassoon 1/2
Contrabassoon
Alto Saxophone 1/2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

Trumpet 1
Trumpet 2
Trumpet 3
Horn 1/2
Horn 3/4
Trombone 1/2
Trombone 3
Bass Trombone
Euphonium 1/2
Tuba

String Bass

Timpani
Percussion 1 (Bells, Triangle, Vibraphone, Whip)
Percussion 2 (Xylophone, Tambourine, High Suspended Cymbal, Crash Cymbals, Crotales)
Percussion 3 (Snare Drum, Low Suspended Cymbal, Woodblock)
Percussion 4 (Bass Drum, Triangle, Low Suspended Cymbal, Woodblock)

Piano