Don Quixote: Pas De Deux: Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works Conductor Score & Parts

The Pas de Deux sits at the heart of Don Quixote and offers orchestras a chance to play one of ballet's most elegant formal structures without tackling the entire full-length work. McDermott's orchestration gives every section of the ensemble something meaningful to do, from woodwind solos to harp glissandi, making this rewarding for players across the stand while maintaining the music's lyrical grace.

Romantic, aristocratic, and surprisingly intimate. The music weaves between solo-like passages and full orchestral swells, creating a sense of both virtuosic display and genuine emotional warmth. There's a theatrical confidence here that comes from a composer who understood exactly what dances need.

Orchestras seeking substantial ballet repertoire that's accessible but not lightweight; youth orchestras ready to take on classical choreographic form; and conductors building a season around 19th-century Russian masterworks.

• Shape the opening theme with a long, singing line in the first violins; resist the urge to rush, letting the accompaniment breathe beneath.
• Balance the harp carefully against the strings so it adds shimmer without drowning the melodic line.
• Coordinate entrance cues between principal woodwinds and strings to lock any transition passages cleanly.

Pair this with other ballet excerpts for a thematic concert, or program it as a standalone work in a classical music showcase. It also works well as a season closer, giving audiences something familiar enough to enjoy while offering your musicians a masterclass in 19th-century ballet orchestration.

• Sustaining lyrical lines across entire phrases without rushing tempo
• Balance between solo and accompanying roles within a single section
• Coordinating with harp and keyboard to maintain harmonic clarity
• Understanding classical dance form through instrumental writing