Coyote Dances
General Info
Year: 2005 / 2007
Duration: 5:30
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: BRS Music
Cost: Score and parts - $90.00 Score Only - Unknown
Instrumentation
Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Piano
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:
- Anvil
- Bass Drum
- Bell Tree
- Glockenspiel
- Marimba
- Ride Cymbal
- Shaker
- Suspended Cymbal (large)
- Tam-Tam
- Tom-Toms
- Triangle
- Vibraphone
- Wind Chimes
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Native American stories feature the trickster, Coyote, who is both the animal we see throughout this continent, and a character who was present at many cosmic events; he is both wise and foolish. This music portrays one of these stories, and is part of a collection of compositions I am writing about this trickster.
"Coyote Dances with a star" is a tale about Coyote who gets an idea that is too big for him. He decides that he is as powerful as the Great Spirit, and that he can go dancing with a star across the sky. The star moves with too much intensity for him, though, and he falls back to earth, flat as a pancake. Coyote eventually regains his shape, and makes his way back up into the heavens to dance again, this time making his way back down to the earth with a little more grace. I composed this piece to bring out certain instruments and sound-color combinations that are not often heard in literature for the winds, and because I wanted to write fun music with exuberant, joyful moments. Listen for a very serious sounding musical theme representing the Great Spirit, and a more bouncy idea for the Coyote.
It was written for and premiered by Dr. Belva Prather and the Wind Ensemble at Missouri State University in 2005. [This work was originally titled, "Coyote Dances... with a star". It was derived from a larger electronic work titled, "Trickster Dances" commissioned and premiered by the New Articulations Dance Company in Tucson, Arizona, also in 2005]
- Program Note by composer
Media
State Ratings
- Indiana: Group I
- Virginia: V
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Northwest College Symphonic Band (Orange City, Iowa) - 10 November 2006
- Penfield High School Wind Ensemble (Rochester, New York)- 16 May 2006
- Quad City Wind Ensemble (Davenport, Iowa)- 12 March 2006
- Missouri State University Wind Ensemble (Springfield, Missouri) - 14 February 2005
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra (2003)
- Coyote Dances (2005)
- Heartwood (2006)
- Open Vistas (2008)