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Six Contrary Dances

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Six Contrary Dances
Six Contrary Dances (Condensed Score)
Item number 8899006CC, $3.00
Six Contrary Dances (Full Score)
Item number 8899005CC, $4.50
Six Contrary Dances - Concert Band
Item number 8899007CC, $39.93

We are proud to bring you this tongue-in-cheek novelty "classical" piece, written by the talented Peter Schickele. Combining subtle (and not so subtle) musician humor with some truly talented compositional skills, "Six Contrary Dances" is a hoot to perform!

Estimated Performance Time: 12:00

Technical Notes: When King Louis XVI of France was beheaded in 1793, many of his personal possessions were burned in the streets. This was the fate of the more noticeable and ostentatious of his possessions. Fortunately the autograph of P.D.Q. Bach's Six Contrary Dances, which the composer had evidently sent to the French monarch in the pathetic hope that Europe's most terpsichorean court would find some use for it, escaped immolation. This was due to the fact that, no doubt after a cursory perusal by the King's Music Master, the score fell down behind a highboy (a piece of furniture not to be confused with the "hautbois"). "Hautbois" is French for "oboe", which, though it is probably related to the highboy etymologically, has no drawers. The score was not rediscovered until well into the 19th century, when a royal cleaning lady brought it to the attention of Louis Phillippe (d/b/a "The Citizen King"), who told her she could keep it for all he cared. The royal cleaning lady threw it back behind the highboy, in which cranny it collected royal and republican dust. One day a Nazi soldier ran across it during the last days of the Occupation and decided to use it as a bullet-proof vest (placing the title page, judging by the considerable reconstruction found necessary by the present editor in the coda of the sixth dance, next to his stomach). This was a decision which caused the feckless folio to accompany its new owner to its native Germany. It was there in Germany where it was to be discovered once again by the present editor, more than three decades later. It was lying on a dirty basement floor next to a muddy helmet, a dusty cake of soap in the shape of the Eiffel Tower, and several filthy postcards. Nobody knows, and few care, about the circumstances surrounding the composition of this clod-bound dance suite.

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd B Flat cornet parts may also be used as trumpet parts. Percussion I consists of parts for xylophone, glockenspiel, cowbell, and gong. Percussion II consists of parts for vibraphone, snare drum, temple block, and trap set. Percussion III consists of parts for castanets, claves, tom-tom, 4 triangles, and cymbals. Percussion IV consists of parts for tambourine and bass drum.

Composer(s): This piece was composed by Professor Peter Schickele and P.D.Q. Bach.

Publisher: This piece was published by Theodore Presser Company.

   This product has a difficulty rating of 3.5-4 on a scale of 1 through 6, with 6 being hardest. Click here to see how we grade our band sets.
How to purchase this item: To purchase "Six Contrary Dances", just click on the "Click to Buy!" button above. You will then have the option of placing your order online or ordering by mail, fax or phone.

Return Policy: This product may be returned within 30 days of purchase for a full refund, excluding shipping charges.
Other Images:
Front Cover
Front Cover Image 1
 (400kb)
Front Cover Image 2
 (400kb)
Conductor Score
Conductor Score Page 1
 (242kb)
Conductor Score Page 2
 (247kb)
Conductor Score Page 3
 (235kb)
Conductor Score Page 4
 (234kb)
Instrumentation
Instrumentation Page 1
 (183kb)
Parts Included:
1-Condensed Score
1-Full Score
1-Piccolo in C
4-1st Flute / Piccolo
4-2nd Flute / Piccolo
2-1st & 2nd Oboes
2-1st And 2nd Bassoons
1-Contra bassoon
1-E Flat Soprano Clarinet
4-1st B Flat Clarinet
4-2nd B Flat Clarinet
4-3rd B Flat Clarinet
2-E Flat Alto Clarinet
2-B Flat Bass Clarinet / B Flat Contra Bass Clarinet
2-1st E Flat Alto Saxophone
2-2nd E Flat Alto Saxophone
2-B Flat Tenor Saxophone
2-E Flat Baritone Saxophone
3-1st B Flat Cornet
3-2nd B Flat Cornet
3-3rd B Flat Cornet
2-1st Horn In F
2-2nd Horn In F
2-1st Trombone
2-2nd Trombone
2-3rd Trombone
1-Baritone T.C.
2-Baritone B.C.
6-Tuba
1-String Bass
2-1st Percussion
3-2nd Percussion
1-3rd Percussion
1-4th Percussion
1-Timpani


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P.D.Q. Bach - Fugue Of The Volga Boatmen (S. 1-2-3-Grunt)

Complete song list for "Six Contrary Dances" - Band Set Sheet Music:

Maestoso Animoso - Composer: P.D.Q. Bach
Daintissimo - Composer: P.D.Q. Bach
Allegro, But Not Too Mucho - Composer: P.D.Q. Bach
Molto Moderato - Composer: P.D.Q. Bach
Vivace Cucarace - Composer: P.D.Q. Bach
Moving Right Alongo - Composer: P.D.Q. Bach


 
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