Devious Dance: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

A controlled collision between menace and motion. The opening establishes unease, but momentum quickly builds into something urgent and propulsive, with dissonant clusters creating flashes of tension that keep listeners alert. The four-and-a-half minute arc feels both substantial and tightly wound.

Grade 4 bands looking for a concert selection with genuine personality and edge. This work suits programs that value contemporary voice and rhythmic sophistication without requiring advanced technical facility.

• Establish the driving pulse early in rehearsal and anchor it in your rhythm section; let that foundation hold steady while the upper voices navigate the dissonances and attacks.
• Lean into the contrast between the sinister opening and the energy that follows; clarity on this arc makes the piece memorable rather than merely frenetic.
• Give your percussion players ownership of the dynamic shape. Their writing propels the work, so cue them explicitly at section changes and let the band respond to their momentum.

Program this as the centerpiece of a concert exploring contemporary concert band writing, or pair it with more traditional selections to demonstrate the range of the medium. Its energetic character makes it an excellent choice for a mid-program or closing slot where you want to leave audiences with vivid, forward-looking music.

• Executing complex rhythmic figures with ensemble precision
• Navigating cluster chords and dissonant sonorities with confidence
• Responding to dynamic and textural cues from percussion
• Balancing dissonant harmonies while maintaining tonal center
• Building and sustaining momentum through varied instrumental writing