Ritual Dances: Score
By Elliot Del Borgo
Grade: 4
Item: 98-DB1054S
$9.00
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Description
This is classic Del Borgo: bold and dissonant harmonies combined with powerful percussion scoring. It features a rhythmically driving setting that captures the emotion and drama of a ritual dance ceremony. This exciting work provides plenty of musical energy for any performance situation. (5:00)
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Symphonic Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DB1054S
More about this title
About the Composer: Elliot Del Borgo
Elliot Del Borgo has spent decades writing music that speaks directly to band directors and their students. His compositional voice combines modernist harmonic language with the kind of structural clarity that makes complex ideas accessible to high school ensembles.
Del Borgo's catalog demonstrates a deep understanding of what works on the concert stage and in the contest hall. His percussion writing is particularly distinctive, treating rhythm section players as essential voices rather than accompaniment.
Why we love this
Ritual Dances captures everything that makes Del Borgo's writing compelling: sharp harmonic language that never sacrifices coherence, rhythmic momentum that pulls listeners forward, and percussion scoring that demands real musicianship from your entire section. The drama feels earned, not manufactured, and the five-minute arc gives you a complete musical statement without overstaying its welcome.
What to expect
Ritual Dances channels raw ceremonial energy through a modern lens. The dissonance creates tension and urgency while the relentless rhythm drives the music forward with almost primal force. There's drama here without sentimentality.
Who it's for
Grade 4 bands ready to tackle contemporary harmonic language and complex rhythmic interplay. This works equally well for concert programming or festival competition.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the driving pulse early in rehearsal and anchor it through the sustained sections. Your percussion and lower winds lock the heartbeat; let the upper voices color around that foundation.
- Shape the dissonant harmonies with intention. These aren't mistakes to smooth over; they're the emotional core of the piece. Make sure each section hears how their notes sit against the others.
- Bring out rhythmic layers in the middle sections rather than forcing a uniform articulation across the band. Different instrumental choirs have distinct rhythmic responsibilities.
How to use it
Position this as a centerpiece for a concert exploring contemporary band writing, or save it for your festival round where bold programming choices stand out. It also pairs well with earlier 20th-century works that explore similar harmonic territories.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing dissonant harmonic progressions
- Maintaining ensemble precision through syncopated rhythmic figures
- Balancing aggressive percussion scoring with ensemble clarity
- Sustaining musical intensity across a continuous 5-minute structure