Chatham Dances
by Elgar Howarth
Brass Ensemble - Sheet Music

Item Number: 19538707
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Large brass ensemble (piccolo trumpet, Eb trumpet, 3 Bb trumpets, flugelhorn, 4 horns (F), 2 tenor trombones, bass trombone, euphonium, 2 tubas, 2 percussionists) - Grade 4-5

SKU: ET.ENS199B

Composed by Elgar Howarth. Contemporary. Score. Composed 1985, revised 2009. Duration 21 minutes. Editions BIM #ENS199B. Published by Editions BIM (ET.ENS199B).

ISBN 9790207007797.

Chatham Dances was written around 1985, in response to a commission from a local Arts committee in the Medway area of the Thames estuary. Chatham is a town in that district.
It was my idea to write a set of dances for the local Medway brass band, the pieces to be used as a ballet danced by local children. This proved to be impossible to organise and the dances were played just once in concert instead.
There are seven movements:
1) Fanfare: Summons / assembly. A gathering together of the dance company.
2) A first general dance in preparation for
3) The work-place, perhaps a factory. Machine-like music; humour: a bullying fore-man (after letter C, etc.): more humour: the fore-man angry.
4) Prelude - Summer bells: a peaceful break from work.
5) The womens’ dance: graceful, swaying, mysterious.
6) The mens’ dance: heavy, strong, suddenly thoughtful - again heavy.
7) Summons 2: a signal for a new assembly and the end of the day’s work.
8) Exeunt - march out. Work ended: going home: happy, more humour: the fore-man mocked.

Elgard Howarth, June 2010, Suffolk, England.