Concert band (Flute 1, Flute 2, Oboe, Bb Clarinet 1, Bb Clarinet 2, Bb Clarinet ...(+)
Concert band (Flute 1,
Flute 2, Oboe, Bb
Clarinet 1, Bb Clarinet
2, Bb Clarinet 3, Bb Bass
Clarinet, Bassoon, Alto
Saxophone 1/2, Tenor
Saxophone, Baritone
Saxophone, Horn in F 1/2,
Bb Trumpet 1, Bb Trumpet
2, Bb Trumpet 3, Trombone
1/2, Euphonium, Baritone
T.C., Tuba,) - grade 3.5
SKU: CN.S11295
Composed by Bruce Fraser.
Score only. Duration
5:30. Published by G & M
Brand Music Publishers
(CN.S11295).
Greek Folk
Dances captures the
excitement of two dance
styles the composer
encountered while on
holiday in the Greek
Islands - the Hasapiko
and the Syrto. The first
is slow and dramatic
dance that plods along
showcasing the solo
clarinet, while the
second is a blazing fast
fire dance that
alternates between 4/4,
3/4 and 7/8.
The
inspiration for these
dances came from my first
proper cruise in 2007,
when we traveled around
Greek islands and spent a
week on the island of
Corfu. Traditional music
was all around us and we
had the chance to watch
and take part in some
dancing. I began to
formulate mu own ideas
into two of the dance
styles I had encountered
- the Hasapiko and the
Syrto. The Hasapiko is a
butcher dance where the
dancers put their arms
around each other's
shoulders and move in a
slow side to side motion,
dragging the insides of
their feet on the ground.
The music often speeds
up, but not necessarily.
The Syrto is much faster,
again with arms around
shoulders. Often a solo
dancer breaks away, doing
acrobatic dance tricks in
the middle of the circle.
I observed solo fire
dancing among flames
sprayed onto the ground
using some flammable
liquid. I have tried to
capture some of the
excitement of this. The
Syrto can be in 3/4 time
or 7/8 time, or a mixture
of the two. I have used
all three options in a
gradual speeding up
process charging towards
a hugely energetic
ending.
