Dance of the Shadows

Description

Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin 3, Viola, Cello, Contrabass — This piece, written in 3/4 time throughout, evokes visions of dancing figures, their faces unrecognizable in the shadows created from the play of light at dusk. Moving from D minor to E minor, the eerie keys and accidentals provide intriguing effects. Teachable moments abound for low 1st finger on A and E and some high 3rd finger in upper strings, augmented intervals and extended patterns in all instruments, as wells as slurs and hooked bowings. This piece can be performed any time of the year, or as an autumn or Halloween feature! This dark and shadowy waltz elegantly weaves a spell in D minor, dancing through a twisted web of accidentals as it shifts andchanges to E minor. Players get to work on extended and low-1 finger patterns, slurs, and even momentary syncopation as the haunted melody floats from section to section, drifting and descending chromatically, only to vanish into thin air.