Jungle Dance

From Wind Repertory Project
Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages


General Info

Year: 2011
Duration: c. 3:00
Difficulty: II-1/2 (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: FJH Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $55.00   |   Score Only (print) - $9.00


Instrumentation

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

  • Agogo Bells
  • Cabasa
  • China Cymbals
  • Claves
  • Conga
  • Cowbell
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Guiro
  • Marimba
  • Shakers
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Temple Blocks
  • Tom-Tom
  • Vibraphone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

This captivating musical celebration portrays the strong energy of all life in a jungle. The piece cleverly uses a melody that never changes throughout the entire work — rather, all the surrounding harmonies and textures constantly evolve as the music develops. Ultimately, the melody is layered on top of itself numerous times along with the countermelodies that have been heard throughout the work. A large battery of percussion completes the orchestration.

- Program Note from publisher


Jungle Dance is a new type of piece for me. It depicts a celebration in the middle of a jungle. It is not specific to people -- it actually represents the celebration of all living things -- animals, plants, and people-- all coming together in a high energy celebration of life and nature. The melody itself is quite infectious and is treated as a passacaglia... The melody repeats constantly while the textures, rhythms and harmonies around it change and develop.

- Program Note by composer


Commissioned by the Lawton C. Johnson Middle School Bands, Summit, New Jersey; Michelle Brick, director.

- Program Note from score


Media


State Ratings

  • Georgia: III
  • Indiana: ISSMA JUNIOR BAND GROUP II
  • Michigan: Junior High B
  • Michigan: Senior High D
  • South Carolina: II
  • West Virginia: II


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

  • Brian Balmages website Accessed 15 September 2020
  • Bright, Jeff. "Jungle Dance." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 11, Compiled and edited by Richard Miles, 225-231. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2018.
  • Perusal score