12027 – Round Dance

Arranged by Roger Harvey for 12 trombones

Difficulty: Medium

Price: £20.00

Programme notes:

This piece was originally written as the closing movement of a divertimento for 3 trumpets entitled Various Things. It is here re-jigged for a 12 part trombone choir.

It is simple repetitive music in an irregular meter somewhat in the rhythmic manner of Eastern European folk dances but with a more western European harmonic style. There is a rhythmic element which is introduced with clapping at the outset and which continues almost throughout the piece. Voices join in one by one as if joining the dancing circle.

Performance notes:

Rehearse the rhythmic pattern thoroughly. Also rehearse playing each of the 3 parts of the pattern as well as just the first note of each group. This will help with the accompaniment figures in the piece. In general articulate cleanly and keep a joyful style. The passages at D and J can be played a little more gently but make sure that there is still a strong sense of pulse and rhythm to avoid dragging.