Renaissance Dances: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Mark Williams' arrangement captures the rhythmic clarity and period character of Susato's originals while keeping the writing straightforward enough for a developing band. Three distinct dances provide variety within a single piece, and the Grade 1.5 designation means your second-year players can handle it without sacrificing musical substance or style.

These three dances transport your band into the world of Renaissance courts and celebrations. The writing sparkles with period charm, each dance distinct in character: the moderately paced Mourisque, the quicker Saltarelle, and the flowing Ronde create a mini-journey through Renaissance social music without ever feeling academic or stilted.

Second-year concert band students and directors seeking stylistically authentic Renaissance repertoire that doesn't demand advanced technical facility. The Grade 1.5 level makes this accessible for middle school and younger high school bands while remaining musically worthwhile for any ensemble.

• Honor the dance rhythms by thinking in terms of the underlying pulse rather than fighting against syncopation; let the natural swing of Renaissance meters guide your ensemble's articulation.
• Balance the melodic lines across sections since these dances typically featured clear tune-and-accompaniment textures; avoid the modern habit of letting melody overpower supporting voices.
• Keep a steady, unfussy tempo that reflects the functional role these pieces played in actual Renaissance social dancing; they should feel alive and grounded, not stiff or over-rehearsed.

Program this set on a concert exploring musical history or as a bridge piece between your contemporary band repertoire and something more demanding. It pairs naturally with other early music arrangements or can anchor a themed concert around dance and movement across musical eras.

• Identifying and maintaining dance meter and rhythmic patterns across multiple sections
• Balancing melody and accompaniment in ensemble texture
• Reading and performing Renaissance rhythmic notation (including longer note values and period-appropriate phrasing)
• Sustaining independent musical lines while listening to other parts