Electric Breakdance
|
Beginning concert band and electronic audio track
Grade 1.5 (grade 1 ranges and many optional parts) Commissioned by CENTER GROVE MIDDLE SCHOOL CENTRAL BANDS SAMUEL FRITZ, director ZIONSVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL ORCHESTRAS ASHLEY CARNEY, director |
|
Photo used with permission by Mike Winkelmann.
RECORDING
This is the audio track used in performance, without the live band
Electric Breakdance is part of a larger suite of six works titled "Blue Dot Collection."
The idea for this suite of pieces came from discussions with many of my instrumental music educator colleagues regarding the noticeable lack of compound duple and triple meter works for young band and orchestra. We all agreed that teaching compound meter was not really more challenging than simple meter, but few works exist to apply the skills learned. I find pride in the number of pieces I have commissioned for young band and my good friend Benjamin Taylor seems up for most of my wild composition ideas. I approached him with the idea that the members of Blue Dot Collective could each write a new work in a variety of compound meters; 3/8, 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8, and score them for young band as well as string orchestra. What came from this idea was six wonderfully creative works for young band and string orchestra now known as the Blue Dot Collection. The six works range in difficulty from grade .5 to grade 2. Each work fits the limits of range, length, and rhythmic complexity typically found in simple meter works of the same difficulty level. My students have enjoyed the challenge that each piece presents, but also find them to be creative twists on the young band composition model. I know your students will enjoy them as much as mine and you will find a new passion for young band and orchestra literature.
Samuel Fritz, band director at Center Grove Middle School Central, Greenwood, Indiana.
Samuel Fritz, band director at Center Grove Middle School Central, Greenwood, Indiana.
PERUSAL SCORE
| electricbreakdance_bandscoreperusal.pdf |
PROGRAM NOTE
What would the music sound like in a dance club on an alien planet? This piece is inspired by that question after I saw an awesome image my friend created of an alien sitting in a giant robotic mech with long legs. The alien looks smug and relaxed - ready to cut some serious dance moves with the flick of his finger on the mech controls!
TECHNICAL NOTE - electronic audio track
The electronic audio track is strongly encouraged but optional. This work is intended to be as easy and straight-forward as possible for the band director. It can be performed without any special equipment such as microphones, interfaces, mixing board, earbuds, click track, etc. Simply download the electronic track onto a laptop or any portable device that will play back audio and connect that device to speakers. The piece is as simple as hitting play and then following the tempo of the electronic track.
The ideal setup for performance will have a stereo pair of speakers facing the audience (placed on the right and left side of the lip of the stage), and monitor(s) onstage for the conductor and band. During performance, it will be helpful to have an assistant to start the track (and also ride the faders at a mixing board, if available). The track must be able to be heard by the audience at an equal dynamic level to the band so that they are heard as one mega-instrument.
It will be helpful for the band director to give all of the band members their own personal copy of the track so that they can get familiar with it and practice with it individually. Distribution of the track in this way is authorized with purchase of this
work. The band rehearsal room will need to have the ability to play the electronic track on stereo speakers so that the conductor (and ideally the band) can hear the electronics even during the loudest sections.
Email benjamintaylormusic@gmail.com to request a copy of the performance track.
PERFORMANCE NOTE - instrumentation
This work is intended to provide a successful performance for young bands of all sizes and all instrumentations. So even if your band has a very funky and untraditional instrumentation the electronics will fill in the sound and provide the students and audience a satisfying, well balanced sound in rehearsal and performance.
All passages marked divisi. are optional. The director may ask all players to play either the upper or lower part. It is not crucial to have both parts since the electronic track will cover the other part.
What would the music sound like in a dance club on an alien planet? This piece is inspired by that question after I saw an awesome image my friend created of an alien sitting in a giant robotic mech with long legs. The alien looks smug and relaxed - ready to cut some serious dance moves with the flick of his finger on the mech controls!
TECHNICAL NOTE - electronic audio track
The electronic audio track is strongly encouraged but optional. This work is intended to be as easy and straight-forward as possible for the band director. It can be performed without any special equipment such as microphones, interfaces, mixing board, earbuds, click track, etc. Simply download the electronic track onto a laptop or any portable device that will play back audio and connect that device to speakers. The piece is as simple as hitting play and then following the tempo of the electronic track.
The ideal setup for performance will have a stereo pair of speakers facing the audience (placed on the right and left side of the lip of the stage), and monitor(s) onstage for the conductor and band. During performance, it will be helpful to have an assistant to start the track (and also ride the faders at a mixing board, if available). The track must be able to be heard by the audience at an equal dynamic level to the band so that they are heard as one mega-instrument.
It will be helpful for the band director to give all of the band members their own personal copy of the track so that they can get familiar with it and practice with it individually. Distribution of the track in this way is authorized with purchase of this
work. The band rehearsal room will need to have the ability to play the electronic track on stereo speakers so that the conductor (and ideally the band) can hear the electronics even during the loudest sections.
Email benjamintaylormusic@gmail.com to request a copy of the performance track.
PERFORMANCE NOTE - instrumentation
This work is intended to provide a successful performance for young bands of all sizes and all instrumentations. So even if your band has a very funky and untraditional instrumentation the electronics will fill in the sound and provide the students and audience a satisfying, well balanced sound in rehearsal and performance.
All passages marked divisi. are optional. The director may ask all players to play either the upper or lower part. It is not crucial to have both parts since the electronic track will cover the other part.
Purchase
Please click in the field below to select PDF or hard copy purchase options. Then provide band director name, email address, and School/Institution name and click "Add to Cart." All hard copy options include free shipping to continental USA.
For all other payment arrangements, please email benjamintaylormusic@gmail.com
