Four Short Dances

Price: 
$42.00

Four Short Dances

Arranger/Composer: 

Harding, Scott

Item Code:
09300
Publisher: 
C. Alan Publications

Comprised of some flashy stuff ("Allemande" and "Gigue") but also something that was more of a lyrical nature ("Sarabande" and "Air"), each dance is a short self-contained work, with simple, waving musical lines that can starkly stand on their own.

Program Notes

Four Short Dances was a fun excuse for me to investigate the formal considerations of various movements of the time-honored dance suite. I'm definitely a big believer in working with performers, so when Joanna and Kennen White commissioned me to write a duet, I asked them what kind of piece they were looking for. After a little thought, the answer I ended up with went something like this: "Well, we like fast, showy stuff...but we're also really fond of slow, lyrical music." I'd already been recently taken with the idea of writing a suite of dances, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity: I could come up with some flashy stuff ("Allemande" and "Gigue") but also something that was more of a lyrical nature ("Sarabande" and "Air"). Each dance is a short self-contained work, although an Fm7 chord seems to wind through all of the movements at strategic points. There is nothing programmatic about the music, which for me was a nice departure: the opportunity to write simple, waving musical lines that could starkly stand on their own, without the extra clutter of scenes or imagery. Four Short Dances
I. Allemande
II. Sarabande
III. Air
IV. Gigue

Grade Level: 3
Copyright: 2004
Number of Players: 2
Duration: 6:50

Listen to Recordings

Sample PDF

  • 4short.pdf
  • Instrumentation

    Flute
    B-flat Clarinet