Festive Dances
General Info
Year: 2001
Duration: c. 6:35
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Carl Fischer
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $75.00 | Score Only (print) - $15.00
Movements
1. Allegro
2. Moderato
3. Vivo
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
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
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:
- Bass Drum
- Bells
- Cabasa
- Castanets
- Chimes
- Claves
- Crash Cymbals
- Gong
- Sleigh Bells
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tambourine
- Temple Blocks
- Tom-tom
- Triangle
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
It’s my first published composition for wind band, a three-movement suite that pays homage to my composition and arranging teacher, Charles Carter, using his initials (CEC) as the motivic basis for the entire work.
Charlie was a humble, funny man whom I’ve heard described quite aptly as a “genius teddy bear.” He composed many classics of the school-band repertoire, such as Overture for Winds, Queen City Suite, Rhapsodic Episode,Symphonic Overture and Capitol Hill March -- all of which display Charlie’s remarkable gift for melodic invention and harmonic color, wrapped up in impeccable craftsmanship. If my piece does nothing more than show how much I admire those qualities, that will be enough. Charlie never got to hear Festive Dances -- he died about a month before its premiere, and it is dedicated in part to his memory.
- Program Note by composer
Dedicated to Bentley Shellehammer in memory of Charles Carter. Commissioned by Phi Beta Mu, Omega Chapter, Florida.
- Program Note from score
Robert Thurston’s enormously attractive writing for band and his sure command of Thurston's fondness for mixed meters will keep players on their toes. The second movement (moderato) in particular has a memorable folk-like lilt and charm.
- Program Note from publisher
Media
- Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
- Audio CD: Washington Winds (Edward Petersen, conductor)
State Ratings
- Florida: IV
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- University of Kentucky (Lexington) Concert Band (Lara Roberts, conductor) - 17 November 2020
- Dr. Phillips High School (Orlando, Fla.) Symphonic Band (Charles Watford, conductor) – 12 December 2019
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Across the Clouds (2005)
- Ascendance (1998/2002)
- Assurance (2019)
- Atlantic Rhapsody (2020)
- Chief of Staff March (2010)
- Departures (2014)
- Dreidel Dance (2006/2017)
- Fantasia for a King (as arranger) (1998/2002)
- Festive Dances (2000/2001)
- The Flight of the Falcon (2003)
- Frontier (1990/2005)
- Gates of Freedom (2001)
- The Heart of a Mustang (2017)
- Here We Come A-Wassailing (as arranger) (2007)
- Hiding in the Shadows (2020)
- The Midday Blues (2017)
- Mischief (2019)
- Ningabii’anose
- Red Hills Saga (2017)
- Salute (2019)
- Simple Gifts (as arranger) (2017)
- Songs of the West (2003)
- Time Travels (2012)
- Tower of Inspiration (2019)
- Uprising (2003)
Resources
- Robert Thurston website Accessed 11 September 2021
- Thurston, R. (2001). Festive Dances [score]. Carl Fischer: New York.