Alfred Publishing War Dance of the Seven Serpents - Beck - Concert Band - Gr. 2

Composers: Brian Beck
Format: Score and Parts
Instrumentation: Concert Band
Grade: 2

War Dance of the Seven Serpents, by Brian Beck, is a fantastic showcase for developing musicians. It exhibits many aspects, styles, and techniques included in more sophisticated music that challenge players while being sensitive to range, rhythm, and difficulty. Bound to become a staple in young band literature!

The piece and its title pay homage to the classical works of Gustav Holst and Silvestre Revueltas. "War" is derived from "Mars," from Holst's The Planets, as well as many of this piece's driving rhythms. "Seven" refers to the overall meter of the piece (4+3=7). "Serpents" alludes to Revueltas' Sensemaya, a piece (also in 7/4) that tells a story of a ritual involving a snake.