DANIEL BASFORD - COMPOSER & ARRANGER

Partita Fantastica

2006, rev. 2009. Published by Maecenas Music. Duration 16' approx.

(Grade IV)

 

I. Prelude Maestoso

II. Corrente Ritmoco

III. Sarabande Triste

IV. Giga con Slancio

 

 

Sarabande Triste is available separately and can be performed as an individual concert item. 

First performance - May 2012, Dartmouth College, Hanover

Dartmouth Wind Symphony, cond. Timothy Reynish

 

Scoring

Piccolo, Flutes 1 & 2

2 Oboes

Clarinets 1, 2, 3, Bass Clarinet 

2 Bassoons, Contrabassoon

Alto Saxophones 1 & 2, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone

 

4 Horns

4 Trumpets

3 Trombones (3=bass)

Euphoniums/Baritones (T.C./B.C.)

Tubas

 

Timpani (4 drums)

Percussion (3 players): Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, 4 Tubular Bells (D4/A4/C5/E5), Bass Drum, Snare Drum, Triangle, Pair Cymbals, Suspended Cymbal, Tam-tam, Castanets

 

Programme Note

The goal of Partita Fantastica was to take - as a starting point - titles of movements that are usually found in the suites of the Baroque period and stylise the music that those titles describe instead of concocting a simple 'pastiche'. For example, the Corrente Ritmico is full of syncopation; the Sarabanda Triste is more of an extended reverie rather than a tightly structured slow movement; and the Giga con Slancio is a playful light-hearted finale.

 

Each movement is based on some material (be it harmonic, rhythmic or melodic) that appears in the short, fanfare-like Preludio Maestoso. The opening four-note motif of the work in fact uses the four musical pitches obtained from the word "dance". The Giga leads directly to a short Postlude that revisits the prelude's opening music. The music is designed to be accessible and colourful.