Geometric Dances: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Cichy has found something genuinely clever here: a piece that teaches metric modulation and shifting meters through pure musicality, not academic exercise. The jazz harmonies keep it from feeling cerebral or dry, and the dance-like character means your ensemble will enjoy playing it as much as audiences enjoy hearing it.

A series of interlocking dances that unfold with mathematical precision yet never lose their swing. Each new meter feels like a natural evolution rather than a stumbling block, and the melodies are bright and approachable even as the rhythmic ground shifts beneath the ensemble's feet.

Concert bands at the Grade 4 level that are ready to tackle meter changes as a musical idea rather than a technical hurdle. Directors who want to program something contemporary and playable without resorting to simplified arrangements.

• Establish a steady pulse before each meter change. Your section leaders should count the eighth-note subdivision clearly so players understand where the beat lands in 5/8, 6/8, and 7/8.
• Bring out the melodic lines with dynamic shape; these dances need lift and buoyancy, not a marching-band flatness.
• Lean into the jazz harmonizations without overplaying them. A light touch on the syncopation will let the familiar melodic material shine through.
• Use rehearsal letters or measure numbers religiously when discussing the meter shifts; verbal descriptions of "the part where we add an eighth note" will create confusion.

This works well as a centerpiece for a contemporary music concert or as a closer on a program where you want to leave audiences with something upbeat and rhythmically engaging. It also pairs nicely with other meter-driven works or standard concert repertoire, since its Grade 4 difficulty means rehearsal time can focus on interpretation rather than note accuracy.

• Reading and executing meters in sequence (2/4, 5/8, 6/8, 7/8)
• Maintaining rhythmic integrity during metric modulation
• Responding to jazz harmonies and swing feel
• Understanding how melody remains engaging across changing metric contexts