Three Dance Sketches for Percussion

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Composer Name

Karel Husa

General Info

Year: 1980
Duration: c. 17:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: AMP
Cost: Score and Parts - $0.00   |   Score Only - $0.00

Instrumentation

Player I - IV: marimba, orchestra bells, vibraphone, xylophone, tubular chimes, bass drum, timpani(4), tom-toms(15), congas(3), cymbals(3), hand bells, crotales (2 oct.), wood wind chimes

Program Notes

commission: NACWPI; premiere: 12 April 1980, Miami Beach, Florida, University of Tennessee Percussion Ensemble, F. Michael Combs, conductor

Review

Three Dance Sketches by Karel Husa is the product of a commission by the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors (NACWPI) and was premiered at the 1980 MENC convention at Miami Beach, FL, by the University of Tennessee Percussion Ensemble, F. Michael Combs, Conductor. Written for four performers, each dance sketch requires a different set of instruments for every performer. The three dances are entitled: I. Love, II. Death, and III. War. "Love" uses a 4 1/3 octave marimba, one vibraphone (shared by two performers), chimes, a medium woodblock, glockenspiel, xylophone, and a large woodblock. Eight different mallet types are prescribed for use varying from soft (S) to very hard (VH). "Love" begins with an extended, slow, dramatic introduction which is followed by fast section to be played at a proportional "doubletime" of the introductory tempo. Initial sparse pointillism in the fast section gives way to a return of the thicker, dramatic introduction, concluding this slightly-augmented keyboard percussion quartet. A briefly-composed "Interlude" precedes the second formal movement, "Death." The Instrumentation for "Interlude" includes chimes, two crotales (ill, all), three different gongs, three different cymbals, and marimba. "Interlude" functions much like a recitative to the aria-like "Death." "Death" uses five handbells (divided among three performers), chimes, vibraphone, glockenspiel, tenor drum, a two-octave set ofcrotales, cymbals on two timpani, a bass drum, and a wooden set of wind chimes. "War" uses fifteen graduated drums (no snares needed) plus four timpani, a bass drum, a snare drum, five temple blocks, a sizzle cymbal, chimes, vibraphone, and three gongs. Graphic notation of rhythms gives way to precise rhythmic notation, "War" concludes withaslowdramatic, improvisedsection. There are no separate parts printed of Husa's Three Dance Sketches. The purchase of multiple full scores is necessary in order that each page be mounted on larger cardboard units. A suggested setup of the percussion instruments is included with some instructional notes by the composer. Mr. Husa has indicated that he envisions this work to be choreographed. Three Dance Sketches requires four mature percussionists to perform this almost twenty-minute composition. - James Lambert, July 1984

Recent Performances

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Works for Percussion by this Composer

"mosaique" - Percussion Trio, Celesta, Piano, Harp
Concerto for Percussion and Wind Ensemble (Husa) - Percussion Quintet; Wind Ensemble
Drum Ceremony - Percussion Sextet
Three Dance Sketches for Percussion - Percussion Quartet