Pagan Dances
This work bears the designation Opus 70.
General Info
Year: 1987 / 1991
Duration: c. 13:00
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Southern Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $125.00 | Score Only - $74.95
Movements
1. Ritual - 3:26
2. Mystics - 7:00
3. Master of the Sword - 3:40
Instrumentation
Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II-III
Oboe I-II (II optional doubling English Horn)
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra Alto Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V, including:
- Bass Drum
- Bell Tree
- Brake Drum
- Crash Cymbal
- Crotales
- Glockenspiel
- Gong
- Finger Cymbal
- Ratchet
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tambourine
- Tom-tom
- Triangle
- Tubular Bells
- Wind Chime
- Vibraphone
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
The Pagan Dances completes the cycle of four “primitive” works for symphonic band. I began with Visions Macabre in 1978, followed by Invocation and Toccata in 1980, and Torch Dance in 1984. All of these works employ highly dissonant harmonic combinations, repetitive melodic material, and driving rhythm to showcase the symphonic band’s immense power and dramatic color combinations. This suite is intended to portray an imaginary scene from prehistoric times as if it were a scene from a ballet. It begins with the entrance of the worshipers performing a ritual dance before their idol god. Mystics, or high priests, appear, evoking incantations and performing feats of sorcery before the worshipers. Suddenly, the master of the sword enters, performing a savage dance that culminates with his execution of a sacrifice on the high altar with his broadsword.
- Program Note by composer
Media
- Audio CD: Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra (James Barnes, conductor) - 1991
State Ratings
- Georgia: VI
- Iowa: IV
- Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP I
- Kansas: VI
- Maryland: VI
- New York: Concert Band VI
- Oklahoma: V-A
- South Carolina: I
- Virginia: IV
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Indiana University (Bloomington) Concert Band (Jason H. Nam, conductor) – 1 October 2019
- University of Louisiana Monroe Wind Ensemble (Derle R. Long, conductor) – 10 April 2019
- Indiana University Symphonic Band (Eric M. Smedley, conductor) - 18 November 2014
- Northwest Missouri State University Wind Symphony: mvt. 3 (John Bell, conductor) – 20 February 2014
- North West Wind Ensemble (Sydney, Aus.) (James Brice, conductor) - 2014
- UPEI Wind Symphony (Charlottetown, PEI, Can.)(Karem J. Simon, conductor) - November 2004
Works for Winds by This Composer
Adaptable Music
- Westridge Overture (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Barber) (1983/1991/2021)
- Yorkshire Ballad (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Barber) (1985/2021)
All Wind Works
- All Pleasant Things... (1998)
- Alpine Holiday (2014)
- Alvamar Overture (1981)
- Appalachian Overture (1983)
- Arioso and Presto (2001)
- Autumn Soliloquy (1987)
- Bayerisches Osterfest (2014)
- Beautiful Oregon (2007)
- Breckenridge (1989)
- Brookshire Suite (1980)
- Burnished Brass (2020)
- Caribbean Hideaway (1997)
- Carnaval in São Paulo (2003)
- Centennial Celebration Overture (1986)
- Century Tower (1984)
- Chorale and Jubiloso (1998)
- Chorale Prelude on a German Folk Tune (1986)
- Citadel (2015)
- Concerto for Euphonium (2011)
- Concerto for Tuba (tr. Rogers) (1996)
- Credo (2016)
- Crossgate (1984)
- Dance Variants (2017)
- Danza Sinfonica (2005)
- Desperate Pursuit (2010/2012)
- Dexter Park Celebration (2017)
- Dramatic Overture (2021)
- Dream Journey (1997)
- Eagle Bend (2000)
- Eaglecrest (1984)
- Eighth Symphony (2017)
- Eisenhower Centennial (1992)
- Escenas de los Aztecas (2012)
- Fanfare and Capriccio (2001)
- Fanfare and Processional (2018)
- Fanfares and Alleluias (1996)
- Fantasy Variations (1988)
- Festival Concert March (1982)
- Fifth Symphony (2003)
- First Symphony. See: Symphony
- Fourth Symphony (ed. Rogers) (1999/2001)
- Foxfire (2001)
- Golden Festival Overture (1997)
- Goldene Kameraden (2014)
- Heatherwood Portrait (1983)
- High Plains Overture (1991)
- Hobart Centennial March (2002)
- Home on the Range (as arranger; harm. Ralston) (1873/1992)
- Hope Arises
- Hunter Park (1974)
- Impressions of Japan (1994)
- Inspiration Point (1997)
- Inventions on Marching Songs (1996)
- Invocation and Toccata (1982)
- Jubilation Overture (2005)
- Legend (1992)
- A Leroy Anderson Portrait (as arranger) (1982)
- A Light in the Wilderness (1995)
- The Lightning Brigade (2018)
- Lonely Beach (1993)
- The Long Gray Line (1988)
- Lyric Interlude (1980)
- Majestic (2023)
- Malagueña (as arranger) (1928/2016)
- Maracas from Caracas (2002)
- Meditation (2017)
- My Old Kentucky Home (as arranger) (1853/1997)
- Ninth Symphony (2019)
- Nulli Secundus (1999)
- The Old Guard (1994)
- Pagan Dances (1996)
- The Perishing Rifles (1997)
- Poetic Intermezzo (1985)
- Porgy and Bess (as arranger) (1928/2002)
- Prairie Winds Festival (2016)
- A Prayer for Higashi Nihon (2011)
- Quest (2016)
- Rapscallion (1976)
- Rhapsodic Essay (1999)
- Ritmico (2018)
- Riverfest (1985)
- Romanza (1989)
- Scarlet and Silver Jubilee (2007/2009)
- Second Symphony (2000)
- Seventh Symphony. See: Symphonic Requiem
- The Silver Gazebo (1996)
- Sixth Symphony (2006)
- A Solemn Prelude (2003)
- Sorcery Suite (2002)
- Spitfire Overture (1991)
- Sterling Brass (1981/1998)
- Stone Meadows (1987)
- Sunflower Saga (1994)
- Symphonic Essay (2012)
- Symphonic Overture (1991)
- Symphonic Requiem (2015)
- Symphony (1974-75)
- Symphony No. 1. See: Symphony
- Symphony No. 2. See: Second Symphony
- Symphony No. 3. See: Third Symphony
- Symphony No. 4. See: Fourth Symphony
- Symphony No. 5. See: Fifth Symphony
- Symphony No. 6. See: Sixth Symphony
- Symphony No. 7. See: Symphonic Requiem
- Symphony No. 8. See: Eighth Symphony
- Symphony No. 9. See: Ninth Symphony
- Tchaikovsky Suite (as arranger) (1878/2004)
- The Texans (1986)
- Third Symphony (1997)
- Threnody (2015)
- Three Symphonic Fanfares (1989)
- Toccata Fantastica (2001)
- Torch Dance (1985)
- Trail of Tears (1989)
- Trailridge Saga (1988)
- Tribute (2011)
- Twin Oaks (2000)
- Variants on a Moravian Hymn (1993)
- A Very American Overture (1996)
- Visions Macabres (1978/1984/2006)
- We the People (1990)
- Westport Overture (1988)
- Westridge Overture (1983/1991)
- Westridge Overture (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Barber) (1983/1991/2021)
- The Whistler and His Dog (as arranger) (1905/2005)
- The Wild Blue Yonder (2008)
- Wildwood Overture (2003)
- The Wizard of Oz (as arranger) (1939/1995)
- Yama Midori (2003)
- Yorkshire Ballad (1985)
- Yorkshire Ballad (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Barber) (1985/2021)
Resources
- Barnes, J. (1991). Pagan Dances: For Symphonic Band [score]. Southern Music Co.: San Antonio, Tex.