Pagan Dances

James Barnes

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This work bears the designation Opus 70.

General Info

Year: 1987 / 1996
Duration: c. 13:00
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Southern Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $125.00 | Score Only - $74.95

Movements

1. Ritual - 3:26
2. Mystics - 7:00
3. Master of the Sword - 3:40

Instrumentation

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

The Pagan Dances completes the cycle of four “primitive” works for symphonic band. I began with Visions Macabre in 1978, followed by Invocation and Toccata in 1980, and Torch Dance in 1984. All of these works employ highly dissonant harmonic combinations, repetitive melodic material, and driving rhythm to showcase the symphonic band’s immense power and dramatic color combinations. This suite is intended to portray an imaginary scene from prehistoric times as if it were a scene from a ballet. It begins with the entrance of the worshipers performing a ritual dance before their idol god. Mystics, or high priests, appear, evoking incantations and performing feats of sorcery before the worshipers. Suddenly, The master of the sword enters, performing a savage dance that culminates with his execution of a sacrifice on the high altar with his broadsword.

- Program Note by James Barnes

Media

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State Ratings

Georgia: VI
Iowa: IV
Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP I
Kansas: VI
Maryland: VI
New York: Concert Band VI
Oklahoma: V-A
South Carolina: I
Virginia: IV

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Indiana University (Bloomington) Concert Band (Jason H. Nam, conductor) – – 1 October 2019
University of Louisiana Monroe Wind Ensemble (Derle R. Long, conductor) – 10 April 2019
Indiana University Symphonic Band (Eric M. Smedley, conductor) - 18 November 2014
Northwest Missouri State University Wind Symphony: mvt. 3 (John Bell, conductor) – 20 February 2014
North West Wind Ensemble (Sydney, Aus.) (James Brice, conductor) - 2014
UPEI Wind Symphony (Charlottetown, PEI, Can.)(Karem J. Simon, conductor) - November 2004

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Westridge Overture (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Barber) (1983/1991/2021)
Yorkshire Ballad (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Barber) (1985/2021)

All Wind Works

All Pleasant Things (1998)
Alpine Holiday (2014)
Alvamar Overture (1981)
Appalachian Overture (1983)
Arioso and Presto (2001)
Autumn Soliloquy (1987)
Bayerisches Osterfest (2014)
Beautiful Oregon (2007)
Breckenridge
Brookshire Suite (1980)
Burnished Brass (2020)
Caribbean Hideaway
Carnaval in São Paulo (2003)
Centennial Celebration Overture (1986)
Century Tower (1984)
Chorale and Jubiloso (1998)
Chorale Prelude on a German Folk Tune (1986)
Citadel (2015)
Concerto for Euphonium (2011)
Concerto for Tuba (tr. Rogers) (1996)
Credo (2016)
Crossgate (1984)
Dance Variants (2017)
Danza Sinfonica (2005)
Desperate Pursuit (2010/2012)
Dexter Park Celebration (2017)
Dramatic Overture (2021)
Dream Journey (1997)
Eagle Bend (2000)
Eaglecrest (1984)
Eighth Symphony (2017)
Eisenhower Centennial (1992)
Escenas de los Aztecas (2012)
Fanfare and Capriccio (2001)
Fanfare and Processional (2018)
Fanfare for West Point
Fanfares and Alleluias (1996)
Fantasy Variations (1988)
Festival Concert March (1982)
Fifth Symphony (2003)
First Symphony. See: Symphony
Fourth Symphony (ed. Rogers) (1999/2001)
Foxfire (2001)
Golden Festival Overture
Goldene Kameraden (2014)
Heatherwood Portrait (1985)
High Plains Overture (1991)
Hobart Centennial March
Home on the Range (as arranger; harm. Ralston) (1873/1992)
Hope Arises
Hunter Park (1974)
Impressions of Japan (1994)
Inspiration Point (1997)
Inventions on Marching Songs (1996)
Invocation and Toccata (1982)
Jubilation Overture (2005)
Legend (1992)
A Leroy Anderson Portrait (as arranger) (1982)
A Light in the Wilderness (1995)
The Lightning Brigade (2018)
Lonely Beach (1993)
The Long Gray Line (1988)
Lyric Interlude (1980)
Malagueña (as arranger) (1928/2016)
Maracas from Caracas
Meditation (2017)
Ninth Symphony (2019)
Nulli Secundus (1999)
The Old Guard (1994)
Pagan Dances (1996)
The Perishing Rifles
Poetic Intermezzo (1985)
Porgy and Bess (as arranger) (1928/2002)
Prairie Winds Festival (2016)
A Prayer for Higashi Nihon (2011)
Quest (2016)
Rapscallion (1976)
Rhapsodic Essay (1999)
Ritmico (2018)
Riverfest (1985)
Romanza (1989)
Second Symphony (2000)
Seventh Symphony. See: Symphonic Requiem
The Silver Gazebo (1996)
Sixth Symphony (2006)
A Solemn Prelude (2003)
Sorcery Suite (2002)
Spitfire Overture (1991)
Stone Meadows (1987)
Sunflower Saga (1994)
Symphonic Essay (2012)
Symphonic Overture (1991)
Symphonic Requiem (2015)
Symphony (1974-75)
Symphony No. 1. See: Symphony
Symphony No. 2. See: Second Symphony
Symphony No. 3. See: Third Symphony
Symphony No. 4. See: Fourth Symphony
Symphony No. 5. See: Fifth Symphony
Symphony No. 6. See: Sixth Symphony
Symphony No. 7. See: Symphonic Requiem
Symphony No. 8. See: Eighth Symphony
Symphony No. 9. See: Ninth Symphony
Tchaikovsky Suite (as arranger) (1878/2004)
The Texans (1986)
Third Symphony (1997)
Threnody (2015)
Three Symphonic Fanfares (1989)
Toccata Fantastica (2001)
Torch Dance (1985)
Trail of Tears (1989)
Trailridge Saga (1988)
Tribute (2011)
Twin Oaks (2000)
Variants on a Moravian Hymn (1993)
A Very American Overture (1996)
Visions Macabres (1984/2006)
We the People (1990)
Westport Overture
Westridge Overture (1983/1991)
Westridge Overture (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Barber) (1983/1991/2021)
The Wild Blue Yonder (2008)
Wildwood Overture (2003)
Yama Midori (2003)
Yorkshire Ballad (1985)
Yorkshire Ballad (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Barber) (1985/2021)

Resources

Barnes, J. (1996). Pagan Dances: For Symphonic Band [score]. Southern Music Co.: San Antonio, Tex.