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Kora's Song and Dance
General Info
Year: 2009
Duration: c. 6:55
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Gary Powel Nash
Cost: Score and Parts (digital) - $80.00 0
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
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-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V, including:
- Bass Drum
- Chimes
- Glockenspiel
- Marimba
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tam-tam
- Tom-tom
- Vibraphone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
During the 2006-2007 academic year, I was fortunate to travel to Ghana, Spain and Vietnam. These experiences were quite profound, and they resulted in me composing new works that reflect these experiences. Kora’s Song and Dance (2009) for symphonic wind ensemble is my first large ensemble composition written under this premise.
Kora is a 21-stringed musical instrument from West Africa, and Kora’s Song and Dance is largely based on the tune Diabate’ by singer/songwriter Vieux Farke’ Toure’ of Mali. Diabate’ is also the name of well-known kora musician Toumani Diabate’ in which Toure’ dedicated the song to. Kora’s Song and Dance uses melodies that are derived from the drone motif in Toure’s Diabaté. Diabate’ is a medium tempo song with the drone motif occurring throughout and improvised melodies on top of the drone.
Kora’s Song and Dance begins with a slow introduction, featuring the alto sax and marimba. The rest of the ensemble gradually enters and builds to the end of the intro, transitioning to the next section by way of metric modulation. The next section builds with layers of instrumental textures, much like the intro and concludes with an English horn and piano duet. This particular pattern of musical events repeats, transitioning back to slow music, reminiscent of the intro and then ends big by going back to the faster tempo.
- Program Note by composer
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Border Suite (2013)
- A Fraternal Prelude (1997)
- Kora's Song and Dance (2009)
- The Mission (2010)
- On the Battlefield, with Certainty (2022)
- Zamenis Zarabanda (2017)
Resources
- Gary Nash website Accessed 5 March 2021
- The Horizon Leans Forward…, compiled and edited by Erik Kar Jun Leung, GIA Publications, 2021, p. 432-433.