MENORCAN DANCES - Martin Ellerby

Click HERE to view a perusal score

My Menorcan Dances were completed in January 2019 and are somewhat inspired by a holiday taken on the Mediterranean Balearic island of Menorca that previous summer. They are cast in three compact movements following a traditional fast, slow, fast structure. Although the subtitles are taken from Spanish dance forms they are far from strict in interpretation, each taking the traditional essence as a starting point and playing rhythmic and melodic games with the styles thereafter. Much use is made of regionally-suggestive percussion instruments plus an optional harp. Lasting around 7 minutes the three movements are:

 

1. Fandango – Allegro ritmico

2. Bolero - Gracioso

3. Jota – Molto allegro

 

The work is dedicated to Erika Sparkes, the Northwestern State University Wind Symphony and their Director of Music, Jeffrey C. Mathews, the latter giving the first performance at the 18th International WASBE Congress in Buñol, Valencia, Spain on 10 July, 2019. The first UK performance was given by Birmingham Symphonic Winds conducted by Keith Allen in Warwick Hall, Warwick, England on 8 March 2020. The work has been recorded on the MER label by the NSU Wind Symphony conducted by Jeffrey C. Mathews – please visit www.martinellerby.com for further information.

 

© 2019 MEM Publications, UK

Piccolo

2 Flutes

2 Oboes

2 1st B flat Clarinets 

2 2nd B flat Clarinets 

2 3rd B flat Clarinets

B flat Bass Clarinet

Bassoon

2 E flat Alto Saxophones

B flat Tenor Saxophone

E flat Baritone Saxophone

3 B flat Trumpets

4 F Horns

3 Trombones (3rd Bass)

Euphonium (part in bass & treble clefs)

2 Tubas

Double Bass

Harp (optional) – part can alternatively be played (minus glissandi)

on a suitable synthesiser at the conductor’s discretion

Timpani 

5 Percussion – Side Drum, Suspended Cymbal, Xylophone, Tambourine (on stand with sticks and hand-held), Wood Block (on stand), Triangle, Glockenspiel, Clashed Cymbals, Ride Cymbal, Tam-tam, Bass Drum, Castanets, Large Cymbal, Vibraphone, Tubular Bells, Guiro, Low Suspended Cymbal

C. 7 minutes