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Blue Dances
General Info
Year: 2018
Duration: c. 5:35
Difficulty: IV-1/2 (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Murphy Music Press
Cost: Score and Parts - $150.00 | Score Only (digital) - $24.00
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
Flugelhorn
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Percussion, including:
- Bass Drum
- Bongos
- Rainstick
- Snare Drum
- Temple Blocks
- Whip
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Blue Dances is a work for wind ensemble dedicated to the beautiful people and island of Puerto Rico. After the devastating hurricane (Maria), I felt a need to give back in some way. My connection to Puerto Rico is deep. I had the privilege of living there for over nine years as a young boy. When the island suffers, I suffer. When the island celebrates, I celebrate. Composing Blue Dances was an act of love.
The piece starts with sounds of the ocean, and a delicate trio between the flute, oboe, and flugelhorn. The Latin melodies throughout the piece represent a positive outlook towards the future of this island. The people of Puerto Rico are resilient, strong, positive, and always loving. These beautiful sentiments are what I hope I was able to have Blue Dances represent.
- Program Note by composer
Blue Dances was commissioned by a consortium of 20 high school and university band programs.
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Florida State University (Tallahassee) Wind Ensemble (Faith Hall, conductor) - 13 April 2021
- University of California, Los Angeles, Symphonic Band (Doris Doyon Vann, conductor) – 6 December 2019
- Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, Tx.) Symphonic Band (Brian Gibbs, conductor) – 13 April 2019
- Bridgewater (Va.) College Symphonic Band (Christine Carrillo, conductor) – 7 April 2019 *Premiere Performance*
- University of Florida (Gainesville) Symphonic Band (John Watkins Jr., conductor) – 28 February 2019
Works for Winds by This Composer
Adaptable Music
- Aphelion (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Bove) (2020/2021)
- El Zape (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
- In Blue or Green (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
- Jesu dulcis memoria (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2020)
- La Moto (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Wacyk) (2021)
- Lamento Cubano (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Wacyk) (2021)
- Lost in Tijuana (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
- Mayagüez (Flex instrumentation) (2021)
- Rattlesnake Blues (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
- Ricochet (Flex instrumentation) (2021)
- Shifting Grounds (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
- Tumbao de Carlitos (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
- Zoom Stomp (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
All Wind Works
- The Annapolis Fanfare (2019)
- Aphelion (2020/2022)
- Aphelion (chamber) (2020)
- Aphelion (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Bove) (2020/2021)
- Blue Dances (2018)
- BOOM! (2020)
- Danzas (2022)
- David's Big Green Caboose (2020)
- El Zape. See: Three Latin American Dances
- Fanfarria (2018)
- I Dream Awake (2022)
- In Blue or Green (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
- It is our light... (2019)
- Jesu dulcis memoria (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2020)
- Joy Is a Bird
- Lost in Tijuana (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
- Mayagüez (Flex instrumentation) (2021)
- Miniatures (2020)
- Passionately Curious (2019)
- Rattlesnake Blues (2020)
- Reunion (2020)
- Ricochet (Flex instrumentation) (2021)
- Shifting Grounds (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
- Three Latin American Dances (2020)
- Voyages
- Zoom Stomp (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Resources
- Giovanni Santos, personal correspondence, May 2019
- Giovanni Santos website Accessed 20 May 2019
- The Horizon Leans Forward…, compiled and edited by Erik Kar Jun Leung, GIA Publications, 2021, p. 465.
- Perusal score