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John Barnes Chance, composer
The title suggests a religious orientation, but not toward any of the
established religions of Western or Eastern cultures.
To the standard deities one offers prayers.
Incantations are uttered in rituals of magic, demonic rites, the conjuring
up of spirits evil and benign.
And when the spirit comes and the worshiper is possessed, there is dancing,
wild and abandoned.
The Incantation, full of mystery and expectation, serves as an
introduction to the piece.
The Dance begins quietly with percussion instruments but soon grows
wild and frenzied with brass instruments hammering out ferocious snarls and
woodwinds flying in whirling scales.
Here is no pretty tune but a paroxysm of rhythm, a convulsion of syncopation
that drives on and on, mounting to a shattering climax of exaltation.
WGM
Incantation and Dance by John Barnes Chance is one of the
masterpieces of contemporary concert band literature.
The title of this piece suggests a religious orientation, but not towards any
of the established religions of Western or Eastern culture.
Incantations are uttered in rituals of magic, demonic rites, the conjuring up
of spirits evil and benign.
And when the spirit comes and the worshipper is possessed, there is dancing
wild and abandoned.
The Incantation, full of mystery and expectation, serves as a formal
introduction.
The Dance also begins quietly but grows wilder and more frenzied finally
reaching a shattering climax of exultation.
Band Music Notes
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