Galliard Battaglia

From Wind Repertory Project
Samuel Scheidt

Samuel Scheidt (arr. Verne Reynolds)


General Info

Year:
Duration: c. 2:00
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher:
Cost: Score and Parts -


Instrumentation

Trumpet I-II
Horn
Trombone
Tuba


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

This piece was originally written for five viols with a continuo realized from the instrumental bass line, but Scheidt indicated that other instruments could be used. The galliard, a vigorous court dance popular during the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, had fairly aggressive, or at least energetic moves: four hops on the ball of one foot while the other moved forward in a sharp kick, a vigorous jump, and a “posture” (a stance with one foot resting in front of the other). The coupling of this dance with a battle theme seems a reasonable association.

Played in a lively tempo in F major, the two trumpeters represent the two sides of the battling parties as they echo and attempt to outdo each other. The first call ascends in quarter notes and quickly descends to a cadence; the second trumpet echoes this exactly. The next call has the same high and low points as the first, but with flashy passing tones in between, and it is in the Moxolydian mode (adding an E flat to the F scale). The other brasses meanwhile underpin the two trumpets with simple pulses. The calls come closer together (at one measure instead of two). The trumpets begin to deliver rhythmic variations on repeated tones and simple scale runs, exaggerating the piano and forte dynamics.

Before the coda, a more stately dance proceeds in quarter notes almost like a chorale. Suddenly, the five parts break apart in wild counterpoint for a most impressive ending.

- Program note by "Blue" Gene Tyranny


Commercial Discography


Media

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State Ratings

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Performances

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Works for Winds by This Composer


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