Country Dance

Description

Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, Piano — Country Dancexa0is adapted from thexa0Passepiedxa0in Handel'sxa0Water Music. It should be performed at a lively tempo. Quarter notes at 120 beats per minute would be acceptable for first-year students. More advanced students should strive for a tempo between 144 and 180.At the director's discretion, the eighth-note figures, which replace the trills in Handel's original work, may be slurred in groups of two or four.Beginning at mm.12 and 40, where the second violin and cello play alone, cues have been included in Violin I and Bass. Use the cues only if necessary. These little duets provide a nice contrast to the sound of the full ensemble. In Handel's original work, the duets are given to the horns. If two horn players are available, the director may wish to have them play the duets instead of the strings.If an ensemble is unable to play the C-sharps at mm.48 and 49, the piano should include them. If a piano is not used, the absence of C-sharps will leave an open fifth, which is not out of character in this music.Performance time with all repeats, including thexa0da capo, is about a minute and a half. A well-known excerpt from Handel's popular Water Music, Country Dance has been expertly arranged by educator-composer Joseph Compello. Simple eighth-note patterns are introduced and natural bowings without slurs will facilitate teaching this popular classical selection to young musicians. Duration: 3'30"