C. Alan Publications

DANCES WITH WINDS

Composer: Shelley Hanson
Format: Score and Parts
Instrumentation: Concert Band (Flexible Instrumentation
Level: 4

Dances with Winds is based on folk tunes from three very different European regions. The Macedonian Bagpipe sings a joyful tune in Gaida while the Irish Star is represented in both March and Waltz form. The piece finishes with a wild Serbian Dance, known as the "Gypsy Salad." The work features extremely flexible instrumentation.
Duration: 18:00

• Movement 1, Gaida, is named after the Macedonian bagpipe, which is less strident than the Celtic bagpipe. The two famous bagpipe tunes that are used show that a gaida can sound either very plaintive or very joyful.


• Movement 2, The Irish Star, uses the well-known Irish folk tune "Star of the County Down." Most often played in march tempo, this tune also can be performed as a waltz. Both versions are used here.


• Movement 3, Serbian Dance, is a very fast folk dance called a "kolo." This particular tune is often referred to as "Ciganski Urnebes." Urnebes is a very popular type of Serbian salad, and Ciganski means "Gypsy," so this wild dance is a "Gypsy Salad."