Product Description
I. Highland Ballad (Scotland)
II. Ceremonial (Nigeria)
III. Circle Dance (America)
Folk Fantasies (2013) for solo violin, percussion, and string orchestra is a concert piece inspired
by folk traditions. Although this work draws upon folk music styles, it does not quote or use any
actual folk tunes or material directly. For each of the three movements, I began by composing
an original folk tune within that musical style. Each movement of the work is then a simple
arrangement in my own musical style of my original tunes. The formal and harmonic language
of the work is very simple, direct, and uncluttered throughout, as is appropriate for folk music.
The first movement, Highland Ballad (Scotland), begins and ends with lyrical music. The middle
sections contain settings of the basic melodyfirst presented over a bagpipe-like drone (with
interjections) and then in a full harmonization.
The second movement, Ceremonial (Nigeria), combines a harmonic refrain along with a simple
melody in the Nigerian/Yoruba folk style. As the movement progresses, the violin plays the role
of a song-leader, adding increasingly impassioned countermelodies and textures over the basic
refrains.
The third movement, Circle Dance (America), is jubilantalluding to the songs of the Shakers. A
basic rondo structure alternates the principal melody with contrasting excursions. The set contains the score and solo part only. This score, solo part and complete orchestral parts for 43221 are available as a seperate item.
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.