Philip Sparke

Desert Dances

Henderson is a city in Clark County, Nevada, just southeast of Las Vegas and surrounded by desert: this was the inspiration for the title. Desert Dances opens with a lively introduction, mostly in 3/4, which pervades the faster sections of the piece. This subsides to introduce a slower dance which expands to a full-band climax. The introduction soon returns and leads to the main theme of the piece, a waltz-like melody played by the full ensemble. A short bridge passage follows, which leads to a legato central theme. This is played twice and heralds the return of the main theme and a short coda which closes the work. An imaginative work for concert or contest withnice features throughout all groups of the band.