Terpsichorean Dances

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Jodie Blackshaw

General Info

Year: 2009
Duration: c. 7:25
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Manhattan Beach Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $135.00 | Score Only (print) - $25.00

Instrumentation

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

Crash Cymbals
Djembe
Frame Drum
Glockenspiel
Lagerphone
Snare Drum
Tambourine
Turkish Finger Cymbals
Wood Block
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Michael Praetorius (1571-1621), German composer and archivist, was fanatical about recording the details of the many countries he visited, with a focus on the kind of music and musical instruments he encountered. The culmination of this fascination was his three-volume treatise Syntagma Musicum, a compendium of information on German music, musical instruments, and performance practice. But much more well-known today is Praetorius’s 1612 collection of 312 dances from the royal courts of France, known as Terpsichore, named for the Greek muse of dance. These dances were not composed by Praetorius; instead, he recorded and harmonized the melodies into three, four, five, and sometimes even six parts in order to avoid their imminent extinction. In my setting for concert band, three dances from the collection are featured: Springtanz, Leaping Dance; Der Lautenspieler, the Lute Player; and Der Schutzenkönig, the Archer King.

To favor Praetorius’s infatuation with different musical instruments, this setting employs a variety of colors, and features the soloist and sections alike. Performers are invited to play in an animated nature to reinforce the strong sense of pulse required in all dance music. And though we are sure the lagerphone was unknown to Praetorius, we are equally sure he would have delighted in its joyous jangle!

This piece is dedicated to all of the students enrolled in the St. Patrick's College Band Program, Sutherland, New South Wales, Australia, from 1999 to 2002. Their infectious enthusiasm, unwavering support, and raw talent will always be an inspiration to me.

- Program Note by score

Awards

First Frank Ticheli Composition Contest, second prize

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Castle Hill RSL North West (Australia) Wind Ensemble (James Brice, conductor)

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Henderson State University (Arkadelphia, Ark.) Symphony Band (Shaun Popp, conductor) - 12 March 2023
University of Iowa (Iowa City) University Band (Kara Metzer, conductor) - 5 December 2022
OMEA Districts 4 & 7 Viking Band (Birch Browning, conductor) – 19 November 2022 (Cleveland State University)
Hartwick College (Oneonta, N.Y.) Wind Ensemble (Andrew Pease, conductor) - 16 November 2021
Illinois State University (Normal) Symphonic Band (Marykate Kuhne, conductor) – 27 February 2020
University of Northern Colorado (Greeley) Symphonic Band (Wesley J. Broadnax, conductor) – 13 February 2020
Colorado State University (Fort Collins) Symphonic Band (T. André Fagin, conductor) - 12 December 2019
Texas Woman's University (Denton) University Band (Carter Biggers, conductor) – 14 November 2019
University of Dubuque (Iowa) Wind Ensemble (Nolan Hauta, conductor) - 2 November 2019
Rouge River Winds (Toronto, Ont. Can) (Pratik Gandhi, conductor) - 13 April 2019
Grand Street (New York) Community Band (Brian Worsdale, conductor) – 23 March 2019
University of Louisville Concert Band, (Jason Cumberledge, conductor) - 20 February 2019
University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire University Band (Devon Lawrence, conductor) – 27 November 2017
Warren Mott Concert Band - 2014

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Earthshine (gr. II) (Flex instrumentation) (2014)
13 Moons (Flex instrumentation) (2017)

All Wind Works

Belah Sun Woman (2014)
The Blessing of Light (2019)
The Creation of Faith. See: Symphony No. I
Devotion (2019)
Earthshine (Flex instrumentation) (2014)
Into the Sun (2017)
Letter from Sado (2014)
Majesty. See: Salon Morisot
Peace Dancer (2017)
Salon Morisot (2019)
- Majesty (2019)
- Devotion (2019)
- Enchantment (2019)
Soulström (2010/2019)
Symphony No. I (2019)
- The Creation of Faith (2019)
Terpsichorean Dances (2009)
13 Moons (Flex instrumentation) (2017)
Twist (2013)
Vulnerable Joy (2022)
Whirlwind (2006)

Resources

Blackshaw, J. [2010]. Terpsichorean Dances [score]. Manhattan Beach Music: Brooklyn N.Y.
Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Terpsichorean Dances." Accessed 22 January 2016
Pease, Andy. "Terpsichorean Dances by Jodie Blackshaw." Wind Band Literature, 30 July 2021. Web. Accessed 30 July 2021
Rudgers, Gregory B. Terpsichorean Dances: For Concert Band. MBM Times, Issue 6 (2012), 55.