Ritual Dances: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Del Borgo constructs this work with real dramatic arc. The dissonant harmonies and relentless percussion drive create genuine tension and release rather than mere surface excitement, giving your ensemble something substantial to shape and interpret. Grade 4 bands often get asked to play either safe or flashy; this score offers both craft and conviction.

Raw and elemental. The rhythmic momentum propels you forward while dissonant harmonies create an unsettled, primal energy that mimics the intensity of ritual and ceremony. The percussion writing amplifies this visceral quality, making the ensemble feel like a unified, powerful force.

Grade 4 concert bands seeking a contest or festival piece with genuine substance. This score rewards bands that commit to ensemble precision and expressive control, making it ideal for programs ready to move beyond note-reading into interpretive collaboration.

• Balance the bold harmonic language by ensuring inner voices articulate clearly. Dissonance loses its power when doubling and voicing blur together.
• Lock the percussion section to the rhythmic pulse before full band rehearsals begin. The driving energy depends on precise coordination between pitched and unpitched percussion.
• Shape the dynamic contours across entire sections rather than hitting marked accents in isolation. The drama builds through deliberate control of intensity and release.
• Explore tempo flexibility within the marked pulse. A slight give-and-take at ritual moments can enhance the ceremonial quality without losing the fundamental drive.

This works exceptionally well as a closing concert selection where you need to send the audience out energized and moved. The five-minute duration and high-impact scoring also make it a strong festival choice for bands aiming to leave an impression on adjudicators.

• Balancing dissonant harmony through voice independence and articulation
• Maintaining rhythmic precision in syncopated, driving passages
• Coordinating complex percussion writing with pitched instruments
• Shaping dramatic form through dynamic control and phrasing across large sections
• Interpreting twentieth-century harmonic language with conviction