Courtly Airs and Dances

Ron Nelson

General Info

Year: 1995
Duration: c. 12:05
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: LudwigMasters Publications, through Alfred Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $80.00 | Score Only (print) - $17.50

Movements

1. Intrada – 0:45
2. Basse danse (France) – 1:50
3. Pavane (England) – 2:25
4. Saltarello (Italy) – 2:05
5. Sarabande (Spain) – 1:55
6. Allemande (Germany) – 2:25

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II-III
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III-IV-V-VI
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV-V-VI
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III-IV
Euphonium I-II
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V, including:

Bass Drum (with attached cymbal)
Castanets
Crash Cymbals
Glockenspiel
Marimba
Sleigh Bells
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tambourine
Tenor Drum
Triangle (2)
Tubular Bells (Chimes)
Vibraphone

Players singing

Errata

Bassoon, Mvmt. 4, m.32: Dotted quarter note should be C.
Clarinet I, Mvmt. 4, m.29: Notes should match m. 25. / Mvmt. 4, m. 32: dotted quarter note should be concert C (written D).
Alto Saxophone I & II, Mvt. 4, m.29: Notes should match m.25.

Program Notes

Courtly Airs and Dances is a suite of Renaissance dances which were characteristic to five European countries during the 1500s. Three of the dances (Basse Dance, Pavane, and Allemande) are meant to emulate the music of Claude Gervaise by drawing on the style of his music as well as the characteristics of other compositions from that period. The festival opens with a fanfare-like Intrada followed by the Basse Danse (France), Pavane (England), Saltarello (Italy), Sarabande (Spain), and Allemande (Germany).

The work was commissioned by the Hill Country Middle School Band from Austin, Texas, Cheryl Floyd, director.

- Program Note by composer

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Dallas Wind Symphony (Jerry Junkin, conductor)
Audio CD: Dallas Wind Symphony (Jerry Junkin, conductor) – 1996

State Ratings

Florida: V
Georgia: V
Iowa: IV
Louisiana: IV
Minnesota: II
North Carolina: V
South Carolina: IV
Texas: III. Any three movements)
Texas: IV. Complete
Virginia: V

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

West Valley High School (Yakima, Wash.) Concert Band (Kirk Knight, conductor) - 25 May 2023
Kingsburg (Calif.) High School Wind Ensemble (Mike Schofield, conductor) - 24 March 2023 (2023 Sutherland Wind Festival (Fresno, Calif.)
The Ohio State University (Columbus) Collegiate Winds (Phillip Day, conductor) - 23 February 2023
Appalachian State University (Boone, N.C.) Concert Band (T.j. Anderson, conductor) - 16 February 2023
Sinclair Community College (Dayton, Ohio) Concert Band (Michael Berning, conductor) - 13 November 2022
Contra Costa Wind Symphony (Walnut Creek, Calif.) (Brad Hogarth, conductor) - 23 October 2022
University of Illinois (Champaign/Urbana) Hindsley Symphonic Band (Kimberly Fleming, conductor) - 7 October 2022
Kentucky Virginia (Whitesburg, Ky.) Summer Winds (Donald Sorah, conductor) - 8 June 2021
Heart of Texas (San Antonio) Concert Band (Bradlee Hooker, conductor) - 23 May 2021
University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg) Concert Band (Travis Higa, conductor) – 4 March 2020
Syracuse (N.Y.) University Concert Band (Nieves Villaseñor, conductor) – 27 February 2020
University of Nebraska Lincoln High School Honor Band (Carolyn Barber, conductor) – 26 January 2020
Western Illinois University (Macomb) Concert Band (Andrey Cruz, conductor) – 5 December 2019
West Virginia University (Morgantown) Symphonic Band (Stephen Lytle, conductor) – 19 November 2019
Ripon (Wisc.) College Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Tobin Shucha, conductor) – 17 November 2019
University Heights Symphonic Band (Matthew Salvaggio, conductor) – 17 November 2019
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Wind Orchestra (Nicholas P. Waldron, conductor) – 15 November 2019
University of North Texas (Denton) Concert Band (Jochen McEvoy, conductor) – 6 November 2019
University Heights (Ohio) Symphonic Band (Matthew Salvaggio, conductor) – 20 October 2019
Northshore Concert Band (Evanston, Ill.) (Mallory Thompson, conductor) – 26 September 2019

Works for Winds by This Composer

Aspen Jubilee (1988)
Brevard Fanfare (1986)
Chaconne (In Memoriam...) (1994/1995)
Concerto for Piano & Symphonic Band (1948)
Courtly Airs and Dances (1995)
Danza Capriccio (1991/2013)
Epiphanies (1994)
Fanfare for a Celebration (1982/1986)
Fanfare for Kennedy Center (1995/2008)
Fanfare for the Hour of Sunrise (1991)
Fanfare for the New Millennium (1999)
Lauds (Praise High Day) (1991)
Mayflower Overture (1958/1997)
Medieval Suite (1982-2019)
- Homage to Leonin (1983)
- Homage to Perotin (1982)
- Homage to Landini (2019)
- Homage to Machaut (1983)
Morning Alleluias for the Winter Solstice (1989/1991)
Night Song (1998)
Passacaglia (Homage on B-A-C-H) (1993)
Pastorale (2006)
Pebble Beach Sojourn (1983/1994)
Resonances I (1990)
Rocky Point Holiday (1969)
Savannah River Holiday (1953/1973)
Sonoran Desert Holiday (1995)
Te Deum Laudamus (1988/1990)
To the Airborne (1992/1993)

Resources

Miles, Richard B. 2000. Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. Volume 3. Chicago: GIA Publications. pp. 213-222.
Nelson, R. (1995). Courtly Airs and Dances: In Six Movements for Symphonic Band [score]. Ludwig Music: Cleveland, Ohio.
Ripley, James, "New WASBE Series: Suggested Repertoire from Around the World for Developing Bands." WASBE, February 2023. Web. Accessed 4 February 2023
Ron Nelson website