The Bamboula; Rhapsodic Dance, Op. 75 Cover Image

The Bamboula; Rhapsodic Dance, Op. 75: Full Orchestra, Conductor Score

$30.00 USD

The Bamboula; Rhapsodic Dance, Op. 75: Full Orchestra, Conductor Score

Name: The Bamboula; Rhapsodic Dance, Op. 75: Full Orchestra, Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 36-A607201
Price: 30.00 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

By Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

Item: 36-A607201

$30.00

Shipped

One moment…

Programme Note from original publication - This work was first played in America by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in June, 1910, and was the result of a commission from Mr. Carl Stoeckel, to whom the work is inscribed. The four bars beginning from letter B are identical with a well-known West Indian Negro Dance called "The Bamboula," the tempo of the original "Bamboula" being quite fast throughout. No other subject matter is used throughout the composition, which is merely a series of evolutions of the phrase mentioned. This refers to the middle part also, which is introduced for the sake of contrast. Instrumentation: 2+Picc.2.2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(2-3): Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set).

The Bamboula; Rhapsodic Dance, Op. 75: Full Orchestra, Conductor Score isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.

No sample pages found.

No sample audio found.

No sample videos found.

Series: Kalmus Orchestra Library

Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.

ISBN10: 8-88-852755-9

ISBN13: 979-8-88-852755-9

UPC: 659359765308

SKU: 36-A607201

Instrumentation: 2+Picc.2.2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(2-3): Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set)

More about this title

About the Composer: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) was a British composer of mixed English and Sierra Leonean heritage whose work bridged Victorian musical tradition and emerging modernist techniques. Though he died at only 37, he composed prolifically across symphonies, choral works, and orchestral pieces, and became the first Black conductor to lead a major British orchestra.

Coleridge-Taylor's gift for melodic invention and orchestral color made him a sought-after composer on both sides of the Atlantic. American orchestras particularly championed his work; The Bamboula was commissioned by Carl Stoeckel for the New York Philharmonic, reflecting Coleridge-Taylor's significant reputation among American musicians during the early 20th century.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Coleridge-Taylor constructs an entire orchestral work from a single West Indian theme, demonstrating masterful variation technique and structural coherence. The piece moves beyond surface exoticism to create something genuinely imaginative: a rhythmic, dance-driven score that gives every section of the orchestra vital material and requires real ensemble cohesion.

What to expect

Propulsive and celebratory, rooted in a driving rhythmic motor that recalls dance music yet refined through symphonic orchestration. The piece pulses with energy and forward momentum, alternating between moments of exuberant ensemble brightness and more introspective, orchestrally-layered interludes.

Who it's for

Conductors seeking a colorful, engaging orchestral work that balances structural sophistication with immediate musicality will find Bamboula rewarding. It suits orchestras with solid fundamentals who are ready to tackle rhythmic vitality and multi-layered orchestration without extreme technical demands.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the Bamboula rhythm early in rehearsal as the foundational pulse. Once the ensemble owns that groove, all the variations and orchestral layers will sit properly atop it.
Balance the percussion and timpani carefully; they articulate the dance character but should not overshadow the melodic content. Check that both the battery and lower brass can breathe together.
The middle contrasting section benefits from a clear textural thinning. Mark where the full ensemble drops away so players understand the journey from tutti to reduced forces and back.

How to use it

Program Bamboula as a contrasting curtain-raiser or second-half opener on a concert heavy with 19th-century European symphonicism. Its brevity, rhythmic character, and accessible beauty make it ideal for reaching audiences who might find longer abstract works demanding, while still satisfying musicians seeking rewarding orchestral work.