This Arabian themed work is based in a special minor key that takes the harmonic minor of G and converts it to a C home tone. The result is a beautiful Arabian scale that this piece is made up of. Another very interesting note of Dances of the Desert is the irregular time signature that puts three uneven pulses in one measure. I have grown to love this style of writing. I find that it is very unique, and plays excellently with the Arabian scale mentioned above. The piece features the Djembe playing multiple different series of rhythms in a complex and textured pattern that is also very Arabian I feel. Being a very percussion oriented piece, I have written in simple wood block and floor tom parts for the tuba and second trumpet, so all of the parts are covered.
Dances of the Desert
Description