Paschal Dances
General Info
Copyright: 1994
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Difficulty: Advanced
Duration: 00:10:00
Cost: $60.00
Movement
Introduction
Dance 1
Interlude
Dance 2
Dance 3
Dance 4
Benediction
Instrumentation
Player 1: Glockenspiel & Temple Blocks & Voice
Player 2: Crotales & Snare Drum & Voice
Player 3: Vibraphone 1 & Glockenspiel & Suspended Cymbal & Anvil & Voice
Player 4: Vibraphone 2 & Crotales (upper octave)& Xylophone & Voice
Player 5: Chimes & 5 Roto-Toms & 4 Timbales
Player 6: Marimba 1 (4.5 or 4.3-octave) & Xylophone & Voice
Player 7: Marimba 2 (4.3-octave) & Voice
Player 8: Marimba (4.3-octave) & Water Gong
Player 9: Timpani (5 drums) & Tambourine
Player 10: 4 Small Concert Tom-toms & 4 Congas & Crash Cymbals & Small Bass Drum & Voice
Player 11: 4 Large Concert Tom-toms & 4 Bongos & Voice
Player 12: Large Tam-Tam, Wind Chimes & Inside Piano & Voice
Player 13: Piano
Program Notes
Dedicated to Robert Hohner and the Central Michigan University Percussion Ensemble, Paschal Dances is based on the first two lines of the famous Gregorian Easter sequence, "Victim paschali laudes" (Praises to the Paschal Victim). Motives and phrases of the chant are used to unify the work which comprises an Invocation, 4 Dances, 2 Interludes, and a Benediction. In the opening Invocation, the first phrase of the chant tune is played by the orchestra bells and consequently, the first five notes are harmonized by the marimba. The glockenspiel play both phrases of the first line of the chant at the close of the section. Dance I, in fast tempo, is dominated by membrane instruments with interjections of the second line of the chant tune being played by keyboard instruments. The section segues into the first Interlude, characterized by bowed vibraphone and a dirge-like presentation of the first five notes of the chant in the piano. Following, in the same slow tempo, is Dance II, which features chanting of male voices in canon on each of the three phrases comprising the second line of the chant. The first phrase of the chant undergoes metamorphosis in Dance III, becoming a whole-tone configuration. The dance is set in a lively 6/8 meter with periodic episodes of duplets against the triplet division. At midpoint, the dance breaks into quadruple meter with the first phrase of the chant played by the vibraphone moving in triplets. The dance returns to 6/8 meter and elides with the second Interlude, in slow tempo, where fragments of the chant are heard in the glockenspiels, chimes and marimba. Following a brief silence, Dance IV ensues with the marimbas elaborating on the whole-tone motive used in Dance III. In very fast tempo, the movement climaxes on a glorious G-flat major chord, which also articulates the beginning of the Benediction. Accompanied by all mallet instruments playing the motive of the first phrase of the chant in different rhythms, the piano, along with voices, state a haunting motive derived from the second line of the chant. The work ends with three tolls of a "questioning" chord, with each articulation followed by an arpeggiated version of the chord in the upper register of the piano.
Recent Performance
Works for Percussion by this Composer
Angels of the Apocalypse - Percussion Octet
Babylon - Percussion Ensemble
Concertino (Gillingham) - Percussion Quartet; Wind Ensemble
Concerto for Percussion Ensemble (Gillingham) - Percussion Ensemble (13); Piano
Concerto No. 1 for Marimba (Gillingham)
Concerto No. 2 for Marimba (Gillingham)
Concerto for Piano and Percussion Orchestra - Percussion Ensemble
Dance of Redemption - Marimba
Five Fantasies of Natural Origin - Marimba; Flute
Gate to Heaven: Journey of the Soul - Marimba; Percussion Octet
Liturgical Music - Percussion 13
Normandy Beach 1944 - Percussion Sextet
Paschal Dances - Percussion Ensemble (12); Piano
Point of Reckoning - Percussion Nonet
Quintessence (Gillingham) - Multiple Percussion; Brass Quintet; Wind Ensemble
Return to Innocence - Percussion Septet; Choir
Sacrificial Rite - Percussion Quintet
Spiritual Dances - Percussion Quartet; Oboe (Clarinet)
Stained Glass - Percussion Ensemble (11); Piano
Supercell - Percussion Ensemble; Alto Saxophone; Piano
Triplex - Percussion Sextet; Brass Ensemble
Whirlwind - Percussion Octet